Anaheim City Council
August 25, 2026

17-VI.F. OWNER SELECTION OF TENANTS
The owner is responsible for developing written tenant selection procedures that are consistent with the purpose of improving housing opportunities for very low-income families and reasonably related to program eligibility and an applicant’s ability to fulfill their obligations under the lease. An owner must promptly notify in writing any rejected applicant of the grounds for any rejection [24 CFR 983.253(b)].

Leasing [24 CFR 983.253(a)]
During the term of the HAP contract, the owner must lease contract units to eligible families that are selected and referred by the PHA from the PHA’s waiting list. The contract unit leased to the family must be the appropriate size unit for the size of the family, based on the PHA’s subsidy standards.

Filling Vacancies [24 CFR 983.254(a)]
The owner must promptly notify the PHA of any vacancy or expected vacancy in a contract unit.

After receiving such notice, the PHA must make every reasonable effort to promptly refer a sufficient number of families for the owner to fill such vacancies. The PHA and the owner must make reasonable efforts to minimize the likelihood and length of any vacancy.

PHA Policy
The owner must notify the PHA in writing (mail, fax, or e-mail) within 5 business days of learning about any vacancy or expected vacancy.

The PHA will make every reasonable effort to refer families to the owner within 30 days of receiving such notice from the owner.

Reduction in HAP Contract Units Due to Vacancies [24 CFR 983.254(b)] If any contract units have been vacant for 120 or more days since owner notice of the vacancy, the PHA may give notice to the owner amending the HAP contract to reduce the number of contract units by subtracting the number of contract units (according to the bedroom size) that have been vacant for this period.

PHA Policy
If any contract units have been vacant for 120 days, the PHA will give notice to the owner that the HAP contract will be amended to reduce the number of contract units that have been vacant for this period. The PHA will provide the notice to the owner within 15 business days after the 120
th day of the vacancy. The amendment to the HAP contract will be effective the 1st day of the month following the date of the PHA’s notice.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

17-VI.G. TENANT SCREENING [24 CFR 983.255]
PHA Responsibility
The PHA is not responsible or liable to the owner or any other person for the family’s behavior or suitability for tenancy. However, the PHA may opt to screen applicants for family behavior or suitability for tenancy and may deny applicants based on such screening.

PHA Policy
The PHA may review a PBV applicant family’s rental history and other factors in order to determine if the family will meet the PBV owner’s suitability criteria before referring the family for a unit. If, after the PHA’s review, the family does not meet the PBV owner’s suitability criteria, the PHA may take any one of the following actions: refer the family to the owner for another suitability screening, not refer the family for a unit or remove the family from the waiting list.

The PHA must provide the owner with an applicant family’s current and prior address (as shown in PHA records) and the name and address (if known by the PHA) of the family’s current landlord and any prior landlords.

In addition, the PHA may offer the owner other information the PHA may have about a family, including information about the tenancy history of family members or about drug trafficking and criminal activity by family members. The PHA must provide applicant families a description of the PHA policy on providing information to owners, and the PHA must give the same types of information to all owners.

PHA Policy
The PHA will inform owners of their responsibility to screen prospective tenants, and will provide owners with the required known name and address information, at the time of the turnover HQS inspection or before. The PHA will not provide any additional information to the owner, such as tenancy history, criminal history, etc., unless otherwise stipulated in negotiations with owner while remaining in accordance with programs regulations.

Owner Responsibility
The owner is responsible for screening and selection of the family to occupy the owner’s unit.

When screening families the owner may consider a family’s background with respect to the following factors:
• Payment of rent and utility bills;
• Caring for a unit and premises;
• Respecting the rights of other residents to the peaceful enjoyment of their housing; • Drug-related criminal activity or other criminal activity that is a threat to the health, safety, or property of others; and
• Compliance with other essential conditions of tenancy.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

PART VII: OCCUPANCY

17-VII.A. OVERVIEW
After an applicant has been selected from the waiting list, determined eligible by the PHA, referred to an owner and determined suitable by the owner, the family will sign the lease and occupancy of the unit will begin.

17-VII.B. LEASE [24 CFR 983.256]
The tenant must have legal capacity to enter a lease under state and local law. Legal capacity means that the tenant is bound by the terms of the lease and may enforce the terms of the lease against the owner.

Form of Lease [24 CFR 983.256(b)]
The tenant and the owner must enter into a written lease agreement that is signed by both parties.

If an owner uses a standard lease form for rental units to unassisted tenants in the locality or premises, the same lease must be used for assisted tenants, except that the lease must include a HUD-required tenancy addendum. The tenancy addendum must include, word-for-word, all provisions required by HUD.

If the owner does not use a standard lease form for rental to unassisted tenants, the owner may use another form of lease, such as a PHA model lease.

The PHA may review the owner’s lease form to determine if the lease complies with state and local law. If the PHA determines that the lease does not comply with state or local law, the PHA may decline to approve the tenancy.

PHA Policy
The PHA will not review the owner’s lease for compliance with state or local law, however, the PBV agreement will stipulate that owner must comply with California Tenant-Landlord Law.

Lease Requirements [24 CFR 983.256(c)]
The lease for a PBV unit must specify all of the following information:
• The names of the owner and the tenant;
• The unit rented (address, apartment number, if any, and any other information needed to identify the leased contract unit);
• The term of the lease (initial term and any provision for renewal); • The amount of the tenant rent to owner, which is subject to change during the term of the lease in accordance with HUD requirements;
• A specification of the services, maintenance, equipment, and utilities that will be provide by the owner; and
• The amount of any charges for food, furniture, or supportive services.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

Tenancy Addendum [24 CFR 983.256(d)]
The tenancy addendum in the lease must state:
• The program tenancy requirements;
• The composition of the household as approved by the PHA (the names of family members and any PHA-approved live-in aide);
• All provisions in the HUD-required tenancy addendum must be included in the lease. The terms of the tenancy addendum prevail over other provisions of the lease.

Initial Term and Lease Renewal [24 CFR 983.256(f) and 983.257(b)] The initial lease term must be for at least one year. Upon expiration of the lease, an owner may renew the lease, refuse to renew the lease for “good cause,” or refuse to renew the lease without good cause. If the owner refuses to renew the lease without good cause, the PHA must provide the family with a tenant-based voucher and remove the unit from the PBV HAP contract.

Changes in the Lease [24 CFR 983.256(e)]
If the tenant and owner agree to any change in the lease, the change must be in writing, and the owner must immediately give the PHA a copy of all changes.

The owner must notify the PHA in advance of any proposed change in the lease regarding the allocation of tenant and owner responsibilities for utilities. Such changes may only be made if approved by the PHA and in accordance with the terms of the lease relating to its amendment.

The PHA must redetermine reasonable rent, in accordance with program requirements, based on any change in the allocation of the responsibility for utilities between the owner and the tenant.

The redetermined reasonable rent will be used in calculation of the rent to owner from the effective date of the change.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

Owner Termination of Tenancy [24 CFR 983.257]
With two exceptions, the owner of a PBV unit may terminate tenancy for the same reasons an owner may in the tenant-based voucher program (see Section 12-III.B. and 24 CFR 982.310). In the PBV program, terminating tenancy for “good cause” does not include doing so for a business or economic reason, or a desire to use the unit for personal or family use or other non-residential purpose.

Non-Compliance with Supportive Services Requirement [24 CFR 983.257(c)] If a family at the time of initial tenancy is living in a project-based unit that is exempted from the 25 unit or 25 percent per project cap on project-basing because of participation in a supportive services program (e.g., Family Self-Sufficiency), and successfully completes its FSS contract of participation or the supportive services objective, the unit continues to count as an excepted unit for as long as the family resides in the unit even though the family is no longer eligible for the service. However, if the FSS family fails to successfully complete the FSS contract of participation or supportive services objective and consequently is no longer eligible for the supportive services, the family must vacate the unit within a reasonable period of time established by the PHA, and the PHA shall cease paying housing assistance payments on behalf of the ineligible family.

Tenant Absence from the Unit [24 CFR 983.256(g) and
982.312(a)]
The owner may specify in the lease a maximum period of tenant absence from the unit that is shorter than the maximum period permitted by PHA policy. According to program requirements, the family’s assistance must be terminated if they are absent from the unit for more than 180 consecutive days.

Security Deposits [24 CFR 983.258]
The owner may collect a security deposit from the tenant. The PHA may prohibit security deposits in excess of private market practice, or in excess of amounts charged by the owner to unassisted tenants.

PHA Policy
The PHA will allow the owner to collect a security deposit amount per California Tenant- Landlord Law.

When the tenant moves out of a contract unit, the owner, subject to state and local law, may use the security deposit, including any interest on the deposit, in accordance with the lease, as reimbursement for any unpaid tenant rent, damages to the unit, or other amounts owed by the tenant under the lease.

The owner must give the tenant a written list of all items charged against the security deposit and the amount of each item. After deducting the amount used to reimburse the owner, the owner must promptly refund the full amount of the balance to the tenant.

If the security deposit does not cover the amount owed by the tenant under the lease, the owner may seek to collect the balance form the tenant. The PHA has no liability or responsibility for payment of any amount owed by the family to the owner.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

17-VII.C. MOVES
Overcrowded, Under-Occupied, and Accessible Units [24 CFR 983.260] If the PHA determines that a family is occupying a wrong size unit, based on the PHA’s subsidy standards, or a unit with accessibility features that the family does not require, and the unit is needed by a family that does require the features, the PHA must promptly notify the family and the owner of this determination, and the PHA must offer the family the opportunity to receive continued housing assistance in another unit.

PHA Policy
The PHA will notify the family and the owner of the family’s need to move based on the occupancy of a wrong-size or accessible unit within 10 business days of the PHA’s determination. The PHA will offer the family the following types of continued assistance in the following order, based on the availability of assistance:

PBV assistance in the same project;
PBV assistance in another project; and
Tenant-based voucher assistance.

The PHA will not allow any household composition changes when the family is asked to move from a wrong-sized or accessible unit with continued assistance, unless the new member is joining the household as a result of birth, adoption, court-awarded custody, or if they will be an approved live-in aide.

If the PHA offers the family a tenant-based voucher, the PHA must terminate the housing assistance payments for a wrong-sized or accessible unit at expiration of the term of the family’s voucher (including any extension granted by the PHA) or the date upon which the family vacates the unit. If the family does not move out of the wrong-sized unit or accessible unit by the expiration date of the term of the family's voucher, the PHA must remove the unit from the HAP contract.

If the PHA offers the family another form of assistance that is not a tenant-based voucher, and the family does not accept the offer, does not move out of the PBV unit within a reasonable time as determined by the PHA, or both, the PHA must terminate the housing assistance payments for the unit at the expiration of a reasonable period as determined by the PHA, and remove the unit from the HAP contract.

PHA Policy
When the PHA offers a family another form of assistance that is not a tenant-based voucher, the family will be given 30 days from the date of the offer to accept the offer and move out of the PBV unit. If the family does not move out within this 30-day time frame, the PHA will terminate the housing assistance payments at the expiration of this 30-day period.

The PHA may make exceptions to this 30-day period if needed for reasons beyond the family’s control such as death, serious illness, or other medical emergency of a family member.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

Family Right to Move [24 CFR 983.260]
The family may terminate the lease at any time after the first year of occupancy. The family must give advance written notice to the owner in accordance with the lease and provide a copy of such notice to the PHA. If the family wishes to move with continued tenant-based assistance, the family must contact the PHA to request the rental assistance prior to providing notice to terminate the lease.

If the family terminates the lease in accordance with these requirements, the PHA is required to offer the family the opportunity for continued tenant-based assistance, in the form of a voucher or other comparable tenant-based rental assistance. If voucher or other comparable tenant-based assistance is not immediately available upon termination of the family’s lease in the PBV unit, the PHA must give the family priority to receive the next available opportunity for continued tenant-based assistance.

If the family terminates the assisted lease before the end of the first year, the family relinquishes the opportunity for continued tenant-based assistance.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

17-VII.D. EXCEPTIONS TO THE OCCUPANCY CAP [FR NOTICE 01/18/17] The PHA may not pay housing assistance under a PBV HAP contract for the greater of 25 units in a project or more than 25 percent of the units in a project except as referenced in FR Notice 01/18/17 :
• The unit must be specifically made available for elderly families; or • The project must make supportive services available to all assisted families in the project, although the family does not have to accept or receive the services; or • The units are located in census tract with a poverty rate of 20 percent or less.

A PHA may not require participation in the supportive services as a condition of living in an excepted unit, although such services may be offered. In cases where the unit is excepted because of Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) supportive services or any other supportive services as defined in this Administrative Plan, if a family at the time of initial tenancy was eligible for FSS supportive services successfully completes the FSS contract of participation or the supportive services requirement, the unit continues to count as an excepted unit for as long as the family resides in the unit even though the family is no longer eligible for the service.

However, if the FSS family fails to successfully complete the FSS contract of participation or supportive services objective and consequently is no longer eligible for the supportive services, the family must vacate the unit within a reasonable period of time must vacate the unit within a reasonable period of time established by the PHA, and the PHA must cease paying housing assistance payments on behalf of the ineligible family. If the family fails to vacate the unit within the established time, the unit must be removed from the HAP contract (unless it is possible for the HAP contract to be amended to substitute a different unit for the formerly excepted unit in the project in accordance with program requirements and 983.207(a)).

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

PART VIII: DETERMINING RENT TO OWNER

17-VIII.A. OVERVIEW
The amount of the initial rent to an owner of units receiving PBV assistance is established at the beginning of the HAP contract term. Although for rehabilitated or newly constructed housing, the agreement to enter into HAP Contract (Agreement) states the estimated amount of the initial rent to owner, the actual amount of the initial rent to owner is established at the beginning of the HAP contract term.

During the tem of the HAP contract, the rent to owner is redetermined at the owner’s request in accordance with program requirements, and at such time that there is a five percent or greater decrease in the published FMR.

17-VIII.B. RENT LIMITS [24 CFR 983.301]
Except for certain tax credit units (discussed below), the rent to owner must not exceed the lowest of the following amounts:
• An amount determined by the PHA, not to exceed 110 percent of the applicable fair market rent (or any HUD-approved exception payment standard) for the unit bedroom size minus any utility allowance;
• The reasonable rent; or
• The rent requested by the owner.

Certain Tax Credit Units [24 CFR 983.301(c)]
For certain tax credit units, the rent limits are determined differently than for other PBV units.

These different limits apply to contract units that meet all of the following criteria:
• The contract unit receives a low-income housing tax credit under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;
• The contract unit is not located in a qualified census tract; • There are comparable tax credit units of the same bedroom size as the contract unit in the same building, and the comparable tax credit units do not have any form of rental assistance other than the tax credit; and
• The tax credit rent exceeds a PHA-determined amount (not to exceed 110 percent of the fair market rent or any approved exception payment standard); For contract units that meet all of these criteria, the rent to owner must not exceed the lowest of:
• The tax credit rent minus any utility allowance;
• The reasonable rent; or
• The rent requested by the owner.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

Definitions
A qualified census tract is any census tract (or equivalent geographic area defined by the Bureau of the Census) in which at least 50 percent of households have an income of less than 60 percent of Area Median Gross Income (AMGI), or where the poverty rate is at least 25 percent and where the census tract is designated as a qualified census tract by HUD.

Tax credit rent is the rent charged for comparable units of the same bedroom size in the building that also receive the low-income housing tax credit but do not have any additional rental assistance (e.g., tenant-based voucher assistance).

Use of FMRs, Exception Payment Standards, and Utility Allowances [24 CFR 983.301(f)] When determining the initial rent to owner, the PHA must use the most recently published FMR in effect and the utility allowance schedule in effect at execution of the HAP contract. When redetermining the rent to owner, the PHA must use the most recently published FMR and the utility allowance schedule in effect at the time of redetermination. At its discretion, the PHA may for initial rent, use the amounts in effect at any time during the 30-day period immediately before the beginning date of the HAP contract, or for redeterminations of rent, the 30-day period immediately before the redetermination date.

Any HUD-approved exception payment standard amount under the tenant-based voucher program also applies to the project-based voucher program. HUD will not approve a different exception payment stand amount for use in the PBV program.

Likewise, the PHA may not establish or apply different utility allowance amounts for the PBV program. The same utility allowance schedule applies to both the tenant-based and project-based voucher programs.

PHA Policy
Upon written request by the owner, the PHA will consider using the FMR or utility allowances in effect during the 30-day period before the start date of the HAP, or redetermination of rent. The owner must explain the need to use the previous FMRs or utility allowances and include documentation in support of the request. The PHA will review and make a decision based on the circumstances and merit of each request.

In addition to considering a written request from an owner, the PHA may decide to use the FMR or utility allowances in effect during the 30-day period before the start date of the HAP, or redetermination of rent, if the PHA determines it is necessary due to PHA budgetary constraints.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

Redetermination of Rent [24 CFR 983.302]
The PHA must redetermine the rent to owner upon the owner’s request or when there is a five percent or greater decrease in the published FMR.

Rent Increase
If an owner wishes to request an increase in the rent to owner from the PHA, it must be requested at the annual anniversary of the HAP contract (see Section 17-V.D.). The request must be in writing and in the form and manner required by the PHA. The PHA may only make rent increases in accordance with the rent limits described previously. There are no provisions in the PBV program for special adjustments (e.g., adjustments that reflect increases in the actual and necessary expenses of owning and maintaining the units which have resulted from substantial general increases in real property taxes, utility rates, or similar costs).

PHA Policy
An owner’s request for a rent increase must be submitted to the PHA 60 days prior to the anniversary date of the HAP contract, and must include the new rent amount the owner is proposing.

The PHA may not approve and the owner may not receive any increase of rent to owner until and unless the owner has complied with requirements of the HAP contract, including compliance with HQS. The owner may not receive any retroactive increase of rent for any period of noncompliance.

Rent Decrease
If there is a decrease in the rent to owner, as established in accordance with program requirements such as a change in the FMR or exception payment standard, or reasonable rent amount, the rent to owner must be decreased regardless of whether the owner requested a rent adjustment.

Notice of Rent Change
The rent to owner is redetermined by written notice by the PHA to the owner specifying the amount of the redetermined rent. The PHA notice of rent adjustment constitutes an amendment of the rent to owner specified in the HAP contract. The adjusted amount of rent to owner applies for the period of 12 calendar months from the annual anniversary of the HAP contract.

PHA Policy
The PHA will provide the owner with at least 30 days written notice of any change in the amount of rent to owner.

PHA-owned Units [24 CFR 983.301(g)]
For PHA-owned PBV units, the initial rent to owner and the annual redetermination of rent at the anniversary of the HAP contract are determined by the independent entity approved by HUD.

The PHA must use the rent to owner established by the independent entity.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

17-VIII.C. REASONABLE RENT [24 CFR 983.303]
At the time the initial rent is established and all times during the term of the HAP contract, the rent to owner for a contract unit may not exceed the reasonable rent for the unit as determined by the PHA.

When Rent Reasonable Determinations are Required
The PHA must redetermine the reasonable rent for a unit receiving PBV assistance whenever any of the following occur:
• There is a five percent or greater decrease in the published FMR in effect 60 days before the contract anniversary (for the unit sizes specified in the HAP contract) as compared with the FMR that was in effect one year before the contract anniversary date; • The PHA approves a change in the allocation of responsibility for utilities between the owner and the tenant;
• The HAP contract is amended to substitute a different contract unit in the same building; or • There is any other change that may substantially affect the reasonable rent.

How to Determine Reasonable Rent
The reasonable rent of a unit receiving PBV assistance must be determined by comparison to rent for other comparable unassisted units. When making this determination, the PHA must consider factors that affect market rent. Such factors include the location, quality, size, type and age of the unit, as well as the amenities, housing services maintenance, and utilities to be provided by the owner.

Comparability Analysis
For each unit, the comparability analysis must use at least three comparable units in the private unassisted market. This may include units in the premises or project that is receiving project- based assistance. The analysis must show how the reasonable rent was determined, including major differences between the contract units and comparable unassisted units, and must be retained by the PHA. The comparability analysis may be performed by PHA staff or by another qualified person or entity. Those who conduct these analyses or are involved in determining the housing assistance payment based on the analyses may not have any direct or indirect interest in the property.

PHA-owned Units
For PHA-owned units, the amount of the reasonable rent must be determined by an independent agency approved by HUD in accordance with PBV program requirements. The independent entity must provide a copy of the determination of reasonable rent for PHA-owned units to the PHA and to the HUD field office where the project is located.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

Owner Certification of Reasonable Rent
By accepting each monthly housing assistance payment, the owner certifies that the rent to owner is not more than rent charged by the owner for other comparable unassisted units in the premises. At any time, the PHA may require the owner to submit information on rents charged by the owner for other units in the premises or elsewhere.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

17-VIII.D. EFFECT OF OTHER SUBSIDY AND RENT CONTROL
In addition to the rent limits discussed in Section 17-VIII.B above, other restrictions may limit the amount of rent to owner in a PBV unit. In addition, certain types of subsidized housing are not even eligible to receive PBV assistance (see Section 17-II.D).

Other Subsidy [24 CFR 983.304]
At its discretion, a PHA may reduce the initial rent to owner because of other governmental subsidies, including tax credit or tax exemption, grants, or other subsidized financing.

For units receiving assistance under the HOME program, rents may not exceed rent limits as required by that program.

For units in any of the following types of federally subsidized projects, the rent to owner may not exceed the subsidized rent (basic rent) or tax credit rent as determined in accordance with requirements for the applicable federal program:
• An insured or non-insured Section 236 project;
• A formerly insured or non-insured Section 236 project that continues to receive Interest Reduction Payment following a decoupling action;
• A Section 221(d)(3) below market interest rate (BMIR) project; • A Section 515 project of the Rural Housing Service;
• A project receiving low-income housing tax credits;
• Any other type of federally subsidized project specified by HUD.

Combining Subsidy
Rent to owner may not exceed any limitation required to comply with HUD subsidy layering requirements.

Rent Control [24 CFR 983.305]
In addition to the rent limits set by PBV program regulations, the amount of rent to owner may also be subject to rent control or other limits under local, state, or federal law.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

PART IX: PAYMENTS TO OWNER

17-IX.A. HOUSING ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS [24 CFR 983.351]
During the term of the HAP contract, the PHA must make housing assistance payments to the owner in accordance with the terms of the HAP contract. During the term of the HAP contract, payments must be made for each month that a contract unit complies with HQS and is leased to and occupied by an eligible family. The housing assistance payment must be paid to the owner on or about the first day of the month for which payment is due, unless the owner and the PHA agree on a later date.

Except for discretionary vacancy payments, the PHA may not make any housing assistance payment to the owner for any month after the month when the family moves out of the unit (even if household goods or property are left in the unit).

The amount of the housing assistance payment by the PHA is the rent to owner minus the tenant rent (total tenant payment minus the utility allowance).

In order to receive housing assistance payments, the owner must comply with all provisions of the HAP contract. Unless the owner complies with all provisions of the HAP contract, the owner does not have a right to receive housing assistance payments.

17-IX.B. VACANCY PAYMENTS [24 CFR 983.352]
If an assisted family moves out of the unit, the owner may keep the housing assistance payment for the calendar month when the family moves out. However, the owner may not keep the payment if the PHA determines that the vacancy is the owner’s fault.

PHA Policy
If the PHA determines that the owner is responsible for a vacancy and, as a result, is not entitled to the keep the housing assistance payment, the PHA will notify the landlord of the amount of housing assistance payment that the owner must repay. The PHA will require the owner to repay the amount owed in accordance with the policies in Section 16-IV.B.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

At the discretion of the PHA, the HAP contract may provide for vacancy payments to the owner.

The PHA may only make vacancy payments if:
• The owner gives the PHA prompt, written notice certifying that the family has vacated the unit and identifies the date when the family moved out (to the best of the owner’s knowledge);
• The owner certifies that the vacancy is not the fault of the owner and that the unit was vacant during the period for which payment is claimed;
• The owner certifies that it has taken every reasonable action to minimize the likelihood and length of vacancy; and
• The owner provides any additional information required and requested by the PHA to verify that the owner is entitled to the vacancy payment.

The owner must submit a request for vacancy payments in the form and manner required by the PHA and must provide any information or substantiation required by the PHA to determine the amount of any vacancy payment.

PHA Policy
If an owner’s HAP contract calls for vacancy payments to be made, and the owner wishes to receive vacancy payments, the owner must have properly notified the PHA of the vacancy in accordance with the policy in Section 17-VI.F. regarding filling vacancies.

In order for a vacancy payment request to be considered, it must be made within 10 business days of the end of the period for which the owner is requesting the vacancy payment. The request must include the required owner certifications and the PHA may require the owner to provide documentation to support the request. If the owner does not provide the information requested by the PHA within 10 business days of the PHA’s request, no vacancy payments will be made.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

17-IX.C. TENANT RENT TO OWNER [24 CFR 983.353]
The tenant rent is the portion of the rent to owner paid by the family. The amount of tenant rent is determined by the PHA in accordance with HUD requirements. Any changes in the amount of tenant rent will be effective on the date stated in the PHA notice to the family and owner.

The family is responsible for paying the tenant rent (total tenant payment minus the utility allowance). The amount of the tenant rent determined by the PHA is the maximum amount the owner may charge the family for rental of a contract unit. The tenant rent covers all housing services, maintenance, equipment, and utilities to be provided by the owner. The owner may not demand or accept any rent payment from the tenant in excess of the tenant rent as determined by the PHA. The owner must immediately return any excess payment to the tenant.

Tenant and PHA Responsibilities
The family is not responsible for the portion of rent to owner that is covered by the housing assistance payment and the owner may not terminate the tenancy of an assisted family for nonpayment by the PHA.

Likewise, the PHA is responsible only for making the housing assistance payment to the owner in accordance with the HAP contract. The PHA is not responsible for paying tenant rent, or any other claim by the owner, including damage to the unit. The PHA may not use housing assistance payments or other program funds (including administrative fee reserves) to pay any part of the tenant rent or other claim by the owner.

Utility Reimbursements
If the amount of the utility allowance exceeds the total tenant payment, the PHA must pay the amount of such excess to the tenant as a reimbursement for tenant-paid utilities, and the tenant rent to the owner must be zero.

The PHA may pay the utility reimbursement directly to the family or to the utility supplier on behalf of the family. If the PHA chooses to pay the utility supplier directly, the PHA must notify the family of the amount paid to the utility supplier.

PHA Policy
The PHA will make utility reimbursements to the family.

AHA Administrative Plan Adminplan 4/1/26

17-IX.D. OTHER FEES AND CHARGES [24 CFR 983.354]
Meals and Supportive Services
With the exception of PBV assistance in assisted living developments, the owner may not require the tenant to pay charges for meals or supportive services. Non-payment of such charges is not grounds for termination of tenancy.

In assisted living developments receiving PBV assistance, the owner may charge for meals or supportive services. These charges may not be included in the rent to owner, nor may the value of meals and supportive services be included in the calculation of the reasonable rent. However, non-payment of such charges is grounds for termination of the lease by the owner in an assisted living development.

Other Charges by Owner
The owner may not charge extra amounts for items customarily included in rent in the locality or provided at no additional cost to unsubsidized tenants in the premises. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

CHAPTER 19

SPECIAL PURPOSE VOUCHERS

INTRODUCTION
Special purpose vouchers are specifically funded by Congress in separate appropriations from regular HCV program funding in order to target specific populations.

This chapter describes HUD regulations and PHA policies for administering special purpose vouchers. The policies outlined in this chapter are organized into five sections, as follows:

Part I: RESERVED
Part II: RESERVED
Part III: Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)
Part IV: Mainstream voucher program
Part V: Non-Elderly Disabled (NED) voucher program
Part VI: RESERVED
Except as addressed by this chapter and as required under federal statute and HUD requirements, the general requirements of the HCV program apply to special purpose vouchers. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

PART I: RESERVED
PART II: RESERVED
PART III: VETERANS AFFAIRS SUPPORTIVE HOUSING (VASH) PROGRAM

19-III.A. PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Since 2008, HCV program funding has provided rental assistance under a supportive housing program for homeless veterans. The Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) program combines HCV rental assistance with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) at VA medical centers (VAMCs) and Community-Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), or through a designated service provider (DSP) as approved by the VA Secretary. Eligible families are homeless veterans and their families that agree to participate in VA case management and are referred to the VAMC’s partner PHA for HCV assistance. The VAMC or DSP’s responsibilities include:
• Screening homeless veterans to determine whether they meet VASH program participation criteria;
• Referring homeless veterans to the PHA;
- The term homeless veteran means a veteran who is homeless (as that term is defined in subsection (a) or (b) of Section 103 of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11302)). See 38 U.S.C. 2002.
• Providing appropriate treatment and supportive services to potential VASH participants, if needed, prior to PHA issuance of a voucher;
• Providing housing search assistance to VASH participants; • Identifying the social service and medical needs of VASH participants, and providing or ensuring the provision of regular ongoing case management, outpatient health services, hospitalization, and other supportive services as needed throughout the veterans’ participation period; and
• Maintaining records and providing information for evaluation purposes, as required by HUD and the VA.

VASH vouchers are awarded noncompetitively based on geographic need and PHA administrative performance. Eligible PHAs must be located within the jurisdiction of a VAMC and in an area of high need based on data compiled by HUD and the VA. When Congress funds a new allocation of VASH vouchers, HUD invites eligible PHAs to apply for a specified number of vouchers.

Generally, the HUD-VASH program is administered in accordance with regular HCV program requirements. However, HUD is authorized to waive or specify alternative requirements to allow PHAs to effectively deliver and administer VASH assistance. Alternative requirements are established in the HUD-VASH Operating Requirements, which were originally published in the Federal Register on May 6, 2008, and updated September 27, 2021, and then again in 2024. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Unless expressly waived by HUD, all regulatory requirements and HUD directives regarding the HCV program requirements are applicable to VASH vouchers, including the use of all HUD- required contracts and other forms, and all civil rights and fair housing requirements. In addition, the PHA may request additional statutory or regulatory waivers that it determines are necessary for the effective delivery and administration of the program.

The VASH program is administered in accordance with applicable Fair Housing requirements since civil rights requirements cannot be waived under the program. These include applicable authorities under 24 CFR 5.105(a) and 24 CFR 982.53 including, but not limited to, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination Act and all PHA policies as outlined in Chapter 2 of this document.

When HUD-VASH recipients include veterans with disabilities or family members with disabilities, reasonable accommodation requirements in Part II of Chapter 2 of this policy apply.

19-III.B. REFERRALS [FR Notice 8/13/24 and HUD-VASH Qs and As] VAMC case managers will screen all families in accordance with VA screening criteria and refer eligible families to the PHA for determination of program eligibility and voucher issuance. The PHA has no role in determining or verifying the veteran’s eligibility under VA screening criteria, including determining the veteran’s homelessness status. The PHA must accept referrals from the partnering VAMC and must maintain written documentation of referrals in VASH tenant files. Upon turnover, VASH vouchers must be issued to eligible veteran families as identified by the VAMC.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-III.C. HCV PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY [FR Notice 8/13/24]
Eligible participants are homeless veterans and their families who agree to participate in case management from the VAMC.
• A VASH Veteran or veteran family refers to either a single veteran or a veteran with a household composed of two or more related persons. It also includes one or more eligible persons living with the veteran who are determined to be important to the veteran’s care or well-being.
• A veteran for the purpose of VASH is a person whose length of service meets statutory requirements, and who served in the active military, naval, or air service, was discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable, and is eligible for VA health care.

Under VASH, PHAs do not have authority to determine family eligibility in accordance with HCV program rules and PHA policies. The only reasons for denial of assistance by the PHA are failure to meet the income eligibility requirements and/or that a family member is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program. Under portability, the receiving PHA must also comply with these VASH screening requirements.

Social Security Numbers
When verifying Social Security numbers (SSNs) for homeless veterans and their family members, PHAs must use available flexibilities in accordance with 24 CFR 5.216(g)(1)(iii) to accept self-certification of SSNs and at least one third-party document, such as a bank statement, utility or cell phone bill, or benefit letter that contains the name of the individual in the absence of other documentation.

In the case of the homeless veteran, the PHA must accept the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD-214) or the VA-verified Application for Health Benefits (10-10EZ) as verification of SSN if these forms are available and cannot require the veteran to provide a Social Security card. A VA-issued identification card may also be used to verify the SSN of a homeless veteran.

Proof of Age
The DD-214 or 10-10EZ must be accepted as proof of age in lieu of birth certificates or other PHA-required documentation as outlined in Section 7-II.C. of this policy. A VA-issued identification card may also be used to verify the age of a homeless veteran.

Photo Identification
A VA-issued identification card must be accepted in lieu of another type of government-issued photo identification. These cards also serve as verification of SSNs and date of birth. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Income Eligibility [FR Notice 8/13/24]
With some exceptions, the PHA must determine income eligibility for VASH families in accordance with 24 CFR 982.201 and policies in Section 3-II.A. Low-income families (80 percent of AMI) are eligible for assistance under VASH, and PHAs may not condition eligibility based on additional eligibility criteria specified in its administrative plan. If the family is over- income based on the most recently published income limits for the family size, the family will be ineligible for assistance.

The following alternative requirements related to income apply to VASH families:
• The PHA must determine the applicant’s annual income for purposes of income eligibility by excluding all VA service-connected benefits received by the applicant. This special income exclusion only applies to the definition of annual income for purposes of determining income eligibility. If the HUD-VASH applicant qualifies as a low-income family under the alternative requirement, the VA service-connected benefits (with the exception of the normally excluded deferred VA disability payments under 24 CFR 5.609(b)(16) and the payments related to aid and attendance under 24 CFR 5.609(b)(17)) must still be included as annual income when calculating the family’s adjusted income. In other words, the VA service-connected disability benefits are excluded for purposes of determining income eligibility but included for purposes of calculating the family’s total tenant payment (TTP), housing assistance payment (HAP), and family share.
• When a veteran family reports that they have zero income, the PHA must accept a self- certification of zero income from the family at admission and at reexamination without taking any additional steps to verify the family is indeed zero income. The self-certification does not need to be notarized. The PHA must verify families’ income in the Enterprise Income Verification (EIV) system within 120 days after admission. The PHA may not deny zero income families.
• Regardless of PHA policy, in determining compliance with the asset limitation at admission, for the VASH program, the PHA must accept a self-certification by the family that the family’s total assets are equal to or less than the HUD-published asset limitation amount (adjusted annually) and that the family does not have any present ownership interest in real property, without taking additional steps to verify the accuracy of the declaration. • The PHA must not enforce the asset limitation for VASH families at reexamination. • In addition, because there needs to be a monthly housing assistance payment (HAP) in order to enter into a HAP contract on behalf of a tenant-based voucher family, the utilization of tenant-based VASH assistance by families determined income-eligible is limited to those areas where the family’s (TTP) is less than the applicable payment standard or exception payment standard (including any VASH-specific exception payment standard established by the PHA). The family must select a unit with a gross rent that is above the family’s TTP in order to lease a unit with the tenant-based VASH voucher. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Minimum Rent [FR Notice 8/13/24]
PHAs must consider hardship circumstances before charging a minimum rent in accordance with 24 CFR 5.630(b). The PHA may choose to charge a lower minimum rent (including a minimum rent of $0) specifically for their VASH program regardless of the minimum rent policies established in their administrative plan for other HCV families.

PHA Policy
The PHA does not implement a different minimum rent amount for the VASH program.

The minimum rent for the VASH program will be the same as it is for HCV program as stated in Section 6-III.A.

Screening [FR Notice 8/13/24]
The PHA may not screen any potentially eligible family members or deny assistance for any grounds permitted under 24 CFR 982.552 and 982.553 with one exception: the PHAs is still required to prohibit admission if any member of the household is subject to a lifetime registration requirement under a state sex offender registration program. Accordingly, with the exception of denial for registration as a lifetime sex offender under state law and PHA policies on how sex offender screenings will be conducted, PHA policy in Sections 3-III.B. through 3-III.E. do not apply to VASH. The prohibition against screening families for anything other than lifetime sex offender status applies to all family members, not just the veteran.

If a family member is subject to lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program, the remaining family members may be served if the family agrees to remove the sex offender from its family composition. This is true unless the family member subject to lifetime registration under a state sex offender registration program is the homeless veteran, in which case the family would be denied admission to the program [FR Notice 8/13/24].

Denial of Assistance [Notice PIH 2008-37]
Once a veteran is referred by the VAMC, the PHA must either issue a voucher or deny assistance. If the PHA denies assistance, it must provide the family with prompt notice of the decision and a brief statement of the reason for denial in accordance with Section 3-III.F. Like in the standard HCV program, the family must be provided with the opportunity for an informal review in accordance with policies in Section 3-III.F. In addition, a copy of the denial notice must be sent to the VAMC case manager.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-III.D. CHANGES IN FAMILY COMPOSITION
Adding Family Members [FR Notice 8/13/24]
When adding a family member after the family has been admitted to the program, PHA policies in Section 3-II.B. apply. Other than the birth, adoption, or court-awarded custody of a child, the PHA must approve additional family members and will apply its regular screening criteria in doing so.

Remaining Family Members [HUD-VASH Qs and As]
If the homeless veteran dies while the family is being assisted, the voucher would remain with the remaining members of the tenant family. The PHA may use one of its own regular vouchers, if available, to continue assisting this family and free up a VASH voucher for another VASH- eligible family. If a regular voucher is not available, the family would continue utilizing the VASH voucher. Once the VASH voucher turns over, however, it must go to a homeless veteran family.

Family Break Up [HUD-VASH Qs and As]
In the case of divorce or separation, since the set-aside of VASH vouchers is for veterans, the voucher must remain with the veteran. This overrides the PHA’s policies in Section 3-I.C. on how to determine who remains in the program if a family breaks up. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-III.E. LEASING [FR Notice 8/13/24]
Waiting List
The PHA does not have the authority to maintain a waiting list or apply local preferences for HUD–VASH vouchers. Policies in Chapter 4 relating to applicant selection from the waiting list, local preferences, special admissions, cross-listing, and opening and closing the waiting list do not apply to VASH vouchers.

Exception Payment Standards [FR Notice 8/13/24]
To assist VASH participants in finding affordable housing, especially in competitive markets, HUD allows PHAs to establish a HUD-VASH exception payment standard. PHAs may go up to but no higher than 120 percent of the published metropolitan area-wide fair market rent (FMR) or small area fair market rent (SAFMR) specifically for VASH families. PHAs who want to establish a VASH exception payment standard over 120 percent are allowed but must still request a waiver from HUD through the regular waiver process outlined in Notice PIH 2018-16, or any successor notices.

Exception payment standards implemented by the PHA under this section also apply in determining rents under 24 CFR 983.301(b) for PBV projects only when the project is comprised solely of units exclusively made available to VASH families.

The PHA may also establish an exception payment standard up to 140 percent of the published FMR or SAFMR only to be applied if required as a reasonable accommodation for a family that includes a person with a disability. Any unit approved under an exception payment standard must still meet reasonable rent requirements. The PHA may use a payment standard that is greater than 140 percent of FMR as a reasonable accommodation for a person with a disability, but only with HUD approval.

Voucher Issuance [FR Notice 8/13/24]
Unlike the standard HCV program which requires an initial voucher term of at least 60 days, VASH vouchers must have a search term of at least 120 days. This applies both to the initial search term and moves. PHA policies on extensions as outlined in Section 5-II.E. will apply.

PHA Policy
All VASH vouchers will have an initial term of 120 calendar days.

The family must submit a Request for Tenancy Approval and proposed lease within the 120-day period unless the PHA grants an extension.

The PHA must track issuance of HCVs for families referred by the VAMC or DSP in HUD systems as required in FR Notice 8/13/24.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Special Housing Types [FR Notice 8/13/24]
The PHA must permit VASH clients to use the following special housing types for tenant-based VASH assistance, regardless of whether these types are permitted in their administrative plan for other families:
• Single room occupancy (SRO);
• Congregate housing;
• Group home;
• Shared housing; and
• Cooperative housing.

Initial Lease Term [FR Notice 8/13/24]
Unlike in the standard the HCV program, VASH voucher holders may enter into an initial lease that is for less than 12 months. Accordingly, PHA policy in Section 9-I.E., Term of Assisted Tenancy, does not apply.

Ineligible Housing [FR Notice 8/13/24]
Unlike in the standard HCV program, VASH families are permitted to live on the grounds of a VA facility in units developed to house homeless veterans. This applies to both tenant-based assistance and PBV. Therefore, 24 CFR 982.352(a)(5) and 983.53(a)(2), which prohibit units on the physical grounds of a medical, mental, or similar public or private institution, do not apply to VASH for this purpose only. Accordingly, PHA policy in 9-I.D., Ineligible Units, does not apply for this purpose only.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-III.F. PORTABILITY [Notice PIH 2011-53 and FR Notice 8/13/24] General Requirements
Portability policies under VASH depend on whether the family wants to move within or outside of the initial VA facility’s catchment area (the area in which the VAMC or DSP operates). In all cases, the initial VA facility must be consulted prior to the move and provide written confirmation that case management will continue to be provided in the family’s new location.

VASH participant families may only reside in jurisdictions that are accessible to case management services, as determined by case managers at the partnering VAMC or DSP.

Under VASH, applicant families may move under portability even if the family did not have legal residency in the jurisdiction of the initial PHA when they applied. As a result, PHA policies in Section 10-II.B. about nonresident applicants do not apply. A family that moves under the portability procedures must not be subject to rescreening by the receiving PHA.

If the family no longer requires case management, there are no portability restrictions. Normal portability rules apply.

Portability within the Initial VAMC or DSP’s Catchment Area A VASH family can move within the VAMC’s catchment area as long as case management can still be provided, as determined by the VA. If the initial PHA’s partnering VAMC will still provide the case management services, the receiving PHA must process the move in accordance with portability procedures:
• If the receiving PHA has been awarded VASH vouchers, it can choose to either bill the initial PHA or absorb the family if it has a VASH voucher available to do so. - If the PHA absorbs the family, the VAMC or DSP providing the initial case management must agree to the absorption and the transfer of case management. • If the receiving PHA does not administer a VASH program, it must always bill the initial PHA.

Portability Outside of the Initial VAMC or DSP’s Catchment Area If a family wants to move to another jurisdiction where it will not be possible for the initial PHA’s partnering VAMC or DSP to provide case management services, the initial VAMC or DSP must first determine that the VASH family could be served by another VAMC or DSP that is participating in the VASH program, and the receiving PHA has an available VASH voucher.

In these cases, the family must be absorbed by the receiving PHA either as a new admission or as a portability move-in, as applicable. Upon absorption, the initial PHA’s VASH voucher will be available to lease to a new VASH-eligible family, and the absorbed family will count toward the number of VASH slots awarded to the receiving PHA.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Portability Outside of the Initial VAMC or DSP’s Catchment Area under VAWA Veterans who request to port beyond the catchment area of the VAMC or DSP where they are receiving case management to protect the health or safety of a person who is or has been the victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, and who reasonably believes they are threatened with imminent harm from further violence by remaining in the unit may port prior to receiving approval from the receiving VAMC or DSP.

The initial PHA must follow its emergency transfer plan (see Exhibit 16-3). PHAs may require verbal self-certification or a written request from a participant seeking a move beyond the catchment area of the VAMC or DSP.

The verbal self-certification or written request must include either a statement expressing why the participant reasonably believes that there is a threat of imminent harm from further violence if they were to remain in the same unit or a statement that the tenant was a sexual assault victim and that the sexual assault occurred on the premises during the 90-day period preceding the participants request for the move.

The participant must still port to a PHA that has a VASH program. If the receiving PHA does not have a VASH voucher available to lease, they may bill the initial PHA until a VASH voucher is available, at which point the porting veteran must be absorbed into the receiving PHA’s program. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-III.G. TERMINATION OF ASSISTANCE [FR Notice 8/13/24] Prior to terminating VASH participants, HUD strongly encourages PHAs to exercise their discretion under 24 CFR 982.552(c)(2) as outlined in Section 12-II.D. of this policy and consider all relevant circumstances of the specific case. This includes granting reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities, as well as considering the role of the case manager and the impact that ongoing case management services can have on mitigating the conditions that led to the potential termination.

VASH participant families may not be terminated after admission for a circumstance or activities that occurred prior to admission and were known to the PHA but could not be considered at the time of admission due to VASH program requirements. The PHA may terminate the family’s assistance only for program violations that occur after the family’s admission to the program.

There are two alternative requirements for termination of assistance for VASH participants.

Cessation of Case Management
As a condition of receiving HCV rental assistance, a HUD-VASH-eligible family must receive case management services from the VAMC or DSP. A VASH participant family’s assistance must be terminated for failure to participate, without good cause, in case management as verified by the VAMC or DSP. However, the PHA may offer the family continued assistance through one of its regular vouchers or a PBV unit not exclusively made available for HUD-VASH.

However, a VAMC or DSP determination that the participant family no longer requires case management is not grounds for termination of voucher or PBV assistance. In such a case, at its option, the PHA may offer the family continued assistance through one of its regular vouchers.

The decision to transfer assistance to a regular voucher must consider veteran preference and must be communicated to the VA prior to occurring. If the PHA has no voucher to offer, the family will retain its VASH voucher, or PBV unit, until such time as the PHA has an available voucher (or PBV unit not exclusively made available for VASH) for the family. If the PHA has no voucher to offer, the family will retain its VASH voucher or PBV unit until such time as the PHA has an available voucher for the family.

Serious Violation of the Lease
The regulation at 24 CFR 982.552(b)(2) states that the PHA must terminate program assistance for a family evicted from housing assisted under the program for serious violation of the lease.

HUD waived this provision, and establishing the alternative requirement that the PHA may terminate program assistance in this case. Prior to terminating VASH participants for this reason, HUD strongly encourages PHAs to exercise their discretion under 24 CFR 982.552(c)(2) and consider all relevant circumstances of the specific case, as well as including the role of the case manager and the impact that ongoing case management services can have on mitigating the conditions that led to the potential termination, prior to determining whether to terminate assistance.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

VAWA [FR Notice 8/13/24]
When a veteran’s family member is receiving protection under VAWA because the veteran is the perpetrator of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking, the victim must continue to be assisted. Upon termination of the perpetrator’s VASH assistance, the victim must be given a regular HCV if one is available, and the perpetrator’s VASH voucher must be used to serve another eligible veteran family. If a regular HCV is not available, the perpetrator must be terminated from assistance and the victim will continue to use the VASH voucher.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-III.H. PROJECT-BASING VASH VOUCHERS
General Requirements [Notice PIH 2017-21 and FR Notice 8/13/24] PHAs are authorized to project-base their tenant-based VASH vouchers without additional HUD review or approval in accordance with Notice PIH 2017-21 and all PBV program requirements provided that the VAMC will continue to make supportive services available. In addition, since 2010, HUD has awarded VASH vouchers specifically for project-based assistance in the form of PBV HUD-VASH set-aside vouchers. While these vouchers are excluded from the PBV program cap as long as they remain under PBV HAP contract at the designated project, all other VASH vouchers are subject to the PBV program percentage limitation discussed in Section 17-I.A. Note that VASH supportive services only need to be provided to VASH families receiving PBV assistance in the project, not all families receiving PBV assistance in the project. If a VASH family does not require or no longer requires case management, the unit continues to count as an excepted PBV unit as long as the family resides in the unit. In the description of units in Exhibit A of the HAP contract, PHAs must indicate the number of units that will be exclusively made available to VASH families. The PHA must refer only VASH families to PBV units exclusively made available to VASH families and to PBV units funded through a VASH PBV set-aside award.

If the PHA project-bases VASH vouchers, the PHA must consult with the partnering VAMC or DSP to ensure approval of the project or projects. PHAs may project-base VASH vouchers in projects alongside other PBV units and may execute a single HAP contract covering both the VASH PBVs and the other PBVs. The PHA must refer only VASH families to PBV units exclusively made available to VASH families and to PBV units funded through a HUD set-aside award.

If a VASH family is referred to the PHA and there is an available PBV unit that is not exclusively made available to VASH families, the PHA may offer to refer the family to the owner if allowable under the selection policy for that project, and the owner and PHA may amend the HAP contract to designate the PBV unit as a VASH PBV unit.

The PHA and owner may agree to amend a PBV HAP contract to redesignate a regular PBV unit as a unit specifically designated for VASH families so long as the PHA first consults with the VAMC or DSP. Additionally, the PHA and owner may agree to amend a PBV HAP contract to redesignate a unit specifically designated for VASH families as a regular PBV unit, so long as the unit is not funded through a VASH PBV set-aside award and is eligible for regular PBV (i.e., the unit is not on the grounds of a medical facility and the unit is eligible under the PHA’s program and project caps). Policies for VASH PBV units will generally follow PHA policies for the standard PBV program as listed in Chapter 17, with the exception of the policies listed below.

Ineligible Units
Unlike in the regular PBV program, the PHA may opt to select an occupied unit or admit a family to a unit if such unit is made exclusively available to VASH families if the PBV project is either on the grounds of a VA facility or there are VASH supportive services provided on-site at the project.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Termination of Assistance
A VASH family’s PBV assistance must be terminated for failure to participate in case management when required by the VA. However, the PHA may allow the veteran family to receive a regular (non-VASH) tenant-based voucher or PBV unit instead of the family’s assistance being terminated. In this case, the PHA may:
• Substitute the family’s unit on the PBV HAP contract for another unit (the PHA may, in conjunction with such substitution, add the original unit to the PBV HAP contract with a non-VASH voucher if it is possible to do so;
• Remove the unit from the PBV HAP contract so the family may remain with tenant-based assistance, if the family and the owner agree to use the tenant-based voucher in the unit; or • Change the unit’s status in the PBV HAP contract from a unit exclusively made available for VASH to a regular PBV unit, if doing so is allowable under program rules.

If the PHA will not allow the veteran to receive a regular (non-VASH) tenant-based voucher or PBV unit instead of the family’s assistance being terminated, then upon notification by the VA of the family’s failure to participate in VA-required case management, the PHA must provide the family a reasonable period of time (as established by the PHA) to vacate the unit.

PHA Policy
If the family fails to participate in case management when required by the VA, the PHA will terminate the family’s assistance. The family will have 120 days to vacate the unit.

The PHA will terminate assistance to the family at the earlier of (1) the time the family vacates or (2) the expiration of the 120-day period. If the family fails to vacate the unit within the established time, the owner may evict the family. If the owner does not evict the family, the PHA will remove the unit from the HAP contract or amend the HAP contract to substitute a different unit in the project if the project is partially assisted. The PHA may add the removed unit back onto the HAP contract after the ineligible family vacates the property.

Moves
If a VASH family is eligible to move from its PBV unit after a year of PBV assistance, the PHA will generally follow policies in Chapter 17. However, if there is no VASH tenant-based voucher available at the time the family requests to move, the PHA’s actions depend on whether the family still requires case management.
• The PHA may require a family that still requires case management to wait for a VASH tenant-based voucher for a period not to exceed 180 days. If a HUD-VASH tenant-based voucher is still not available after 180 days, the family must be allowed to move using its VASH voucher as tenant-based assistance. Alternatively, the PHA may allow the family to move using its VASH voucher as tenant-based assistance without having to meet this 180- day waiting period. In either case, the PHA may either amend the PBV HAP contract to replace the assistance in the PBV unit with one of its regular vouchers if the unit is eligible for a regular PBV or the PHA and owner may agree to temporarily remove the unit from the HAP contract.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

• If a VASH veteran has been determined to no longer require case management, the PHA must allow the family to move with the first available tenant-based voucher. If no VASH voucher is immediately available, the PHA may not require the family to wait for a VASH voucher to become available.

Wrong-Sized or Accessible Units
If the PHA determines that a VASH family is occupying a wrong-size PBV unit or a PBV unit with accessibility features that the family does not require and the PBV unit is needed by a family that requires the accessibility features, the PHA must notify the family and the owner within 30 days of the PHA’s determination. The PHA’s offer of continued housing assistance (that must be made within 60 days of the PHA’s determination) must be in the form of either a VASH tenant-based voucher or another VASH PBV unit. If no VASH assistance is available for the PHA to offer within 60 days of the PHA’s determination, the PHA must remove the wrong- sized or accessible unit from the HAP contract to make VASH voucher assistance available to the family.

Contract Terminations
The regulation at 24 CFR 983.206(b), which covers the required provision of tenant-based assistance and requires that the family may elect to use its tenant-based assistance to remain in the same project when a PBV HAP contract terminates or expires, does not apply to families issued a HUD-VASH tenant-based voucher under this circumstance. The PHA may use another voucher to add the unit removed under this alternative requirement to the HAP contract after the family vacates the property, in accordance with 24 CFR 983.207(b).

Rents
Contract rents may not be different based on whether the unit is a VASH PBV unit or a non- VASH PBV unit. In determining the rent to owner for the PBV project, if the cap on the amount of rent to owner under 24 CFR 983.301(b)(1) is lower for non-HUD-VASH units than it is for the HUD-VASH units (e.g., the PHA has established a HUD-VASH exception payment standard and there is either no exception payment standard or a lower exception payment standard for the regular HCV program for the area in question), that lower cap is applicable when setting the rent to owner for the PBV units in the project, including the HUD-VASH units.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Removing Units from the HAP Contract for Ineligible Families The PHA and owner may also agree to temporarily remove a unit from the HAP contract in cases where a HUDVASH eligible veteran has been identified by the VA as appropriate for a VASH PBV unit, but the veteran is not income eligible to receive voucher assistance or may not be selected for the PBV unit because the family’s TTP exceeds the gross rent of the unit. Although the family would not be a program participant in the housing portion of the VASH program in such a case, the family would still benefit from the project’s location on the grounds of a VA facility or from the VASH supportive services on-site at the project, while the VASH voucher would be available to assist another VASH family. The PHA and owner may agree to add a VASH voucher back onto the PBV HAP contract if the family’s income subsequently decreased to the point that there would be a HAP or when the family vacates the unit.

Zero HAP Families
Under normal PBV requirements, the PHA may select an occupied unit to be included under a PBV HAP contract only if the unit’s occupants are eligible for assistance under 24 CFR 982.201, and the TTP for the family is less than the gross rent for the unit. Furthermore, in selecting a family for an available PBV unit, typically the PHA must determine the TTP for the family is less than the gross rent, meaning that the unit will be eligible for a monthly HAP. However, if the PBV project is either on the grounds of a VA facility or there are HUD-VASH supportive services provided onsite at the project, the PHA may opt to select a unit occupied by a zero HAP VASH eligible family or admit a zero HAP VASH family to a unit if such unit is made exclusively available to VASH families. Until such time that the VASH family’s TTP falls below the gross rent, the family is responsible for paying the entire rent to owner in addition to being responsible for paying all tenant-supplied utilities. During any period that the family’s TTP falls below the gross rent, normal PBV requirements apply.

Further, under normally applicable rules, units occupied by families whose incomes have increased during their tenancy resulting in their TTP equaling the gross rent (zero HAP) must be removed from the HAP contract 180 days following the last housing assistance payment to the owner on the family’s behalf. These regulations do not apply to zero HAP families admitted to the PBV project under this waiver and alternative requirement because there is no last housing assistance payment that would trigger the unit removal date of 180 days. As an alternative requirement, PHAs have the option of removing the unit in which the zero HAP family resides from the HAP contract, but no earlier than 180 days from the start of the family PBV tenancy. If the PHA exercises this option, the family may not be required to move from the unit as a consequence and continues to receive the VASH supportive services. If the project is fully assisted, the PHA may reinstate the unit removed to the HAP contract after the family either vacates the unit or their income decreases to the point that there would be a HAP. If the project is partially assisted, the PHA may substitute a different unit for the unit removed from the HAP contact when the first eligible substitute unit becomes available. Alternatively, the PHA may choose to simply leave the unit on the HAP contract while the zero HAP family continues to reside there.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Proposal/Project Selection
PBV proposal and/or project selection for VASH must follow all regular proposal and/or project selection regulations, with one exception. HUD permits noncompetitive selection of one or more PBV projects with units made exclusively available to VASH families on the site of a VA facility. Note that the method of project selection must comply with all other requirements under 24 CFR 983.51, including that the PHA must notify the public of its intent to noncompetitively select one or more projects for PBV assistance through its 5-Year Plan and to ensure any project selection is consistent with the PHA administrative plan. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Failure to Participate in Case Management [FR Notice 8/13/24] Upon notification by the VAMC or DSP of the family’s failure to participate, without good cause, in case management, the PHA must provide the family a reasonable time period to vacate the unit. The PHA must terminate assistance to the family at the earlier of either the time the family vacates or the expiration of the reasonable time period given to vacate.

PHA Policy
Upon notification by the VAMC or DSP that a VASH PBV family has failed to participate in case management without good cause, the PHA will provide written notice of termination of assistance to the family and the owner within 10 business days. The family will be given 60 days from the date of the notice to move out of the unit.

The PHA may make exceptions to this 60-day period if needed for reasons beyond the family’s control such as death, serious illness, or other medical emergency of a family member.

If the family fails to vacate the unit within the established time, the owner may evict the family.

If the owner does not evict the family, the PHA must remove the unit from the HAP contract or amend the HAP contract to substitute a different unit in the project if the project is partially assisted. The PHA may add the removed unit to the HAP contract after the ineligible family vacates the property.

Moves [HUD-VASH Qs and As, FR Notice 8/13/24]
When a VASH PBV family is eligible to move from its PBV unit in accordance with Section 17- VIII.C. of this policy, but there is no other comparable tenant-based rental assistance, the following procedures must be implemented:
• If a VASH tenant-based voucher is not available at the time the family wants (and is eligible) to move, the PHA may require a family who still requires case management to wait for a VASH tenant-based voucher for a period not to exceed 180 days; • If a VASH tenant-based voucher is still not available after that period, the family must be allowed to move with its VASH voucher. Alternatively, the PHA may allow the family to move with its VASH voucher without having to meet this 180-day period. In either case, the PHA is required to replace the assistance in the PBV unit with one of its regular vouchers, unless the PHA and owner agree to temporarily remove the unit from the HAP contract; and • If a VASH veteran is determined to no longer require case management, the PHA must allow the family to move with the first available tenant-based voucher if no VASH voucher is immediately available and cannot require the family to wait for a VASH voucher to become available.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

PART IV: MAINSTREAM VOUCHER PROGRAM

19-IV.A. PROGRAM OVERVIEW [Notice PIH 2020-01 and Notice PIH 2024-30] Mainstream vouchers assist non-elderly persons with disabilities and their families (particularly those transitioning out of institutions or at serious risk of institutionalization) in the form of either project-based or tenant-based voucher assistance.

The Mainstream voucher program, (previously referred to as the Mainstream 5-Year program or the Section 811 voucher program) was originally authorized under the National Affordable Housing Act of 1990. Mainstream vouchers operated separately from the regular HCV program until the passage of the Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act of 2010. Funding for Mainstream voucher renewals and administrative fees was first made available in 2012. In 2017 and 2019, incremental vouchers were made available for the first time since the Melville Act (in addition to renewals and administrative fees), and PHAs were invited to apply for a competitive award of Mainstream vouchers under the FY17 and FY19 NOFAs. In 2020, Notice PIH 2020-22 provided an opportunity for any PHA administering an HCV program to apply for Mainstream vouchers noncompetitively, while Notice PIH 2020-09 authorized an increase in Mainstream voucher units and budget authority for those PHAs already awarded Mainstream vouchers under the FY17 and FY19 NOFAs.

Funding and reporting for Mainstream vouchers is separate from the HCV program. Funds for Mainstream vouchers may be recaptured and reallocated if the PHA does not comply with all program requirements or fails to maintain a utilization rate of 80 percent for the PHA’s Mainstream vouchers.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42) authorized HUD to establish waivers and alternative requirements for Mainstream Vouchers related to the administration of waiting lists, local preferences, and the initial term and extensions of tenant-based vouchers.

HUD is not permitted to waive requirements related to tenant rights and protections, rent setting, fair housing, nondiscrimination, labor standards, and the environment. Prior to this, Mainstream vouchers follow the same program requirements as standard vouchers. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-IV.B. ELIGIBLE POPULATION [Notice PIH 2020-01 and Notice PIH 2020-22] All Mainstream vouchers must be used to serve non-elderly persons with disabilities and their families, defined as any family that includes a person with disabilities who is at least 18 years old and not yet 62 years old as of the effective date of the initial HAP contract. The eligible disabled household member does not need to be the head of household.

The definition of person with disabilities for purposes of Mainstream vouchers is the statutory definition under section 3(b)(3)(E) of the 1937 Act, which is the same as is used for allowances and deductions in the HCV program and is provided in Exhibit 3-1 of this policy.

Existing families receiving Mainstream vouchers, where the eligible family member is now age 62 or older, will not “age out” of the program as long as the family was eligible on the day it was first assisted under a HAP contract.

The PHA may not implement eligibility screening criteria for Mainstream vouchers that is different from that of the regular HCV program.
19-IV.C. PARTNERSHIP AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES [Notice PIH 2020-01] PHAs are encouraged but not required to establish formal and informal partnerships with a variety of organizations that assist persons with disabilities to help ensure eligible participants find and maintain stable housing.

PHA Policy
The PHA will implement a Mainstream program, in partnership with supportive services agencies that may include, but is not limited to:

Orange County Health Care Agency
Orange County non-profits
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-IV.D. WAITING LIST ADMINISTRATION [Notice PIH 2024-30] For Mainstream vouchers, HUD has waived 24 CFR 982.204(f), which requires one waiting list for the HCV program and allows PHA the discretion to operate a Mainstream voucher waiting list that is separate from the general HCV waiting list. This is optional.

If the PHA chooses to create a separate Mainstream waiting list, the PHA must notify families on the HCV waiting list of the separate Mainstream waiting list and provide an opportunity for families on the HCV list to be placed on the Mainstream list.

If the PHA does not pursue the optional waiver to maintain a separate Mainstream waiting list, the PHA must still ensure program access for individuals with disabilities.

Upon turnover, vouchers must be provided to Mainstream-eligible families.

PHA Policy
The PHA will establish a separate waiting list for the Mainstream program.

All PHA policies on opening, closing, and updating the waiting list in Chapter 4 will also apply to the Mainstream waiting list.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-IV.E. PREFERENCES [Notice PIH 2024-30]
While PHAs may establish local preferences based on local housing needs and priorities in accordance with 24 CFR 982.207(a), HCV regulations do not permit PHAs to establish separate preferences for Mainstream voucher applicants. HUD waived 24 CFR 982.207(a)(1) and allows PHAs to establish separate preferences for Mainstream voucher applicants. However, PHAs may not apply a residency preference to Mainstream voucher applicants.

PHAs with outstanding Olmstead-related litigation or enforcement activities, as well as those undertaking affirmative Olmstead planning and implementation efforts, who wish to establish preferences that target individuals with specific disabilities must request HUD approval. The process for requesting approval for a remedial preference targeting individuals with specific disabilities is outlined in Notice PIH 2012-31.

Regardless of whether a PHA chooses to adopt separate Mainstream voucher preferences, if the PHA claimed points for a preference in a NOFO application for Mainstream vouchers, the PHA must adopt a preference for at least one of the targeted groups identified in the NOFO. PHAs may choose to apply NOFO preferences to the entire HCV waiting list or only to Mainstream voucher applicants as a separate Mainstream voucher preference.

PHAs may use either date and time of application or a drawing or other random choice technique in selecting families from the Mainstream waiting list among applicants with the same preference status in accordance with the PHA’s administrative plan.

PHA Policy
The PHA claimed a preference for a targeted group as part of an application for Mainstream vouchers under a NOFO. The PHA will offer the following preference:

1. Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) families (PIH Notice 2025-19) Currently assisted EHV families whose assistance is at risk of termination due to a lack of program funding, in the following order, so long as they are eligible for a Mainstream voucher under the requirements outlined in Section 19-IV.B:
a. EHV families with an elderly and disabled head of household, spouse, or co- head.
b. EHV families with an elderly head of household, spouse, or co-head. c. EHV families with a disabled head of household, spouse, or co-head. d. EHV families with minors under 18.
e. All other families who are currently assisted under the EHV program.

Within each sub-category, families will be placed in randomized order to ensure fairness in the transition process.

2. For up to 172 vouchers, preference will be granted to non-elderly disabled persons who are transitioning out of institutional or other segregated settings or are homeless.

These vouchers were granted through 2017 Mainstream Voucher Program NOFA and 2020 CARES Act allocations.

The PHA will use the date and time of application technique in selecting families from the Mainstream waiting list among applicants with the same preference status. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

State Required Priority: Veterans (including surviving spouses of veterans) and current members of the armed services will have priority within the preference categories listed above. To receive a veteran’s preference, the household must include a veteran, a surviving spouse of a veteran, or a current member of the armed forces. The veteran must be able to document a discharge status other than dishonorable.

19-IV.F. VOUCHER ISSUANCE
Initial Search Term [Notice PIH 2024-30]
For Mainstream vouchers, HUD waived 24 CFR 982.303(a), which requires an initial search term of at least 60 days, and established an alternative requirement that the initial search term for a Mainstream voucher be at least 120 days. The initial 120-day term also applies when a family chooses to move to a new unit with continued assistance inside or outside the PHA’s jurisdiction.

When issuing a Mainstream voucher, the PHA also must provide a current listing of available accessible units known to the PHA and, if necessary, otherwise assist the family in identifying an accessible unit.

PHA Policy
The initial voucher term for all Mainstream vouchers, including those issued when a family wishes to exercise portability, will be 120 days.

Voucher Extension [Notice PIH 2024-30]
The PHA’s administrative plan must describe the PHA’s policies for granting extensions to the initial 120-day voucher term and provide clear instructions to families on the procedures for requesting an extension. If a family requires additional time, the PHA is required to provide an extension as a reasonable accommodation.

PHAs must adopt an extension policy for Mainstream vouchers that includes the following:
• Each extension must be for a minimum of 90 days;
• The PHA must approve the first extension request, regardless of how the request is made (written or verbal) or when it is made, as long as the request is made on or before the expiration date of the voucher and is consistent with applicable requirements (subsequent requests should be processed in accordance with the PHA’s administrative plan); and • The PHA must, on at least one occasion after voucher issuance, notify the family prior to the expiration of the initial term to remind them of the expiration date, the process for requesting an extension, and to inquire if the family is in need of assistance with their housing search.

As part of its search extension policy, the PHA may not restrict a first extension approval to certain circumstances or require documentation from applicants. For all extension requests, a written or verbal request is sufficient. In providing notice to families of the expiration date and extension request process, PHAs must ensure effective communication with persons with disabilities, including those with vision, hearing, speech, intellectual or other developmental disabilities, or any other communication-related disabilities. PHAs must approve all extensions © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

made as a reasonable accommodation, and PHAs must provide this information during the family briefing.

While HUD is establishing an alternative requirement to 24 CFR 982.303(b)(1), HUD reminds PHAs that 24 CFR 982.303(b)(2) requires PHAs to approve all extensions made as part of a reasonable accommodation and PHAs must provide this information during the family briefing (24 CFR 982.301(a)).

PHA Policy
Families may request an extension, either orally or in writing, at any time prior to the expiration of the family’s voucher. All requests for extensions will automatically be granted without the requirement for the family to provide documentation. The initial extension period will be for 90 days. If the family requires additional extensions beyond 90 days, the family may request one additional extension, either orally or in writing, at any time prior to the expiration of the extended voucher term. The subsequent extension will also be for a period of 90 days and will not require the family to meet certain circumstances or provide documentation.

On at least one occasion after voucher issuance, the PHA will contact the family to remind them of the expiration date of their voucher will prior to the expiration of the initial term of the voucher, the process for requesting an extension, and to inquire if the family needs assistance with their housing search. The PHA will ensure effective communication with persons with disabilities, including those with vision, hearing, speech, intellectual or other developmental disabilities, or any other communication- related disabilities.

Extensions beyond 180 calendar days will only be considered as a reasonable accommodation for a person with disabilities
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-IV.G. PORTABILITY [Notice PIH 2020-01 and Mainstream Voucher Basics Webinar, 10/15/20]
Mainstream voucher participants are eligible for portability under standard portability rules and all PHA policies regarding portability in Chapter 10, Part II apply to Mainstream families.

The following special considerations for Mainstream vouchers apply under portability:
• If the receiving PHA has a Mainstream voucher available, the participant may remain a Mainstream participant.
- If the receiving PHA chooses to bill the initial PHA, then the voucher will remain a Mainstream voucher.
- If the receiving PHA chooses to absorb the voucher, the voucher will be considered a regular voucher, or a Mainstream voucher if the receiving PHA has a Mainstream voucher available, and the Mainstream voucher at the initial PHA will be freed up to lease to another Mainstream-eligible family.
• If the receiving PHA does not have a Mainstream voucher available, the participant may receive a regular voucher.

19-IV.H. PROJECT-BASING MAINSTREAM VOUCHERS [FY19 Mainstream Voucher NOFA Q&A]
The PHA may project-base Mainstream vouchers in accordance with all applicable PBV regulations and PHA policies in Chapter 17. PHAs are responsible for ensuring that, in addition to complying with project-based voucher program requirements, the project complies with all applicable federal nondiscrimination and civil rights statutes and requirements. This includes, but is not limited to, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), Titles II or III of the Americans with Disabilities (ADA), and the Fair Housing Act and their implementing regulations at 24 CFR Part 8; 28 CFR Parts 35 and 36; and 24 CFR Part 100. Mainstream vouchers are subject to the PBV program percentage limitation discussed in Section 17-I.A. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

PART IV: NON-ELDERLY DISABLED (NED) VOUCHERS

19-V.A. PROGRAM OVERVIEW [Notice PIH 2013-19]
NED vouchers help non-elderly disabled families lease suitable, accessible, and affordable housing in the private market. Aside from separate funding appropriations and serving a specific population, NED vouchers follow the same program requirements as standard vouchers. The PHA does not have special authority to treat families that receive a NED voucher differently from other applicants and participants.

Some NED vouchers are awarded to PHAs through competitive NOFAs. The NOFA for FY2009 Rental Assistance for NED made incremental funding available for two categories of NED families:
• Category 1 vouchers enable non-elderly persons or families with disabilities to access affordable housing on the private market.
• Category 2 vouchers enable non-elderly persons with disabilities currently residing in nursing homes or other healthcare institutions to transition into the community. PHAs with NED Category 2 vouchers were required to partner with a state Medicaid or health agency or the state Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration agency.

Since 1997, HCVs for NED families have been also awarded under various special purpose HCV programs: Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities in Support of Designated Housing Plans (Designated Housing), Rental Assistance for Non-Elderly Persons with Disabilities Related to Certain Types of Section 8 Project-Based Developments (Certain Developments), One-Year Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, and the Project Access Pilot Program (formerly Access Housing 2000). • Designated Housing vouchers enable non-elderly disabled families, who would have been eligible for a public housing unit if occupancy of the unit or entire project had not been restricted to elderly families only through an approved Designated Housing Plan, to receive rental assistance. These vouchers may also assist non-elderly disabled families living in a designated unit/project/building to move from that project if they so choose. The family does not have to be listed on the PHA’s voucher waiting list. Instead, they may be admitted to the program as a special admission. Once the impacted families have been served, the PHA may begin issuing these vouchers to non-elderly disabled families from their HCV waiting list.

Upon turnover, these vouchers must be issued to non-elderly disabled families from the PHA’s HCV waiting list.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

• Certain Developments vouchers enable non-elderly families having a person with disabilities, who do not currently receive housing assistance in certain developments where owners establish preferences for, or restrict occupancy to, elderly families, to obtain affordable housing. These non-elderly families with a disabled person do not need to be listed on the PHA’s HCV waiting list in order to be offered and receive housing choice voucher rental assistance. It is sufficient that these families' names are on the waiting list for a covered development at the time their names are provided to the PHA by the owner. Once the impacted families have been served, the PHA may begin issuing these vouchers to non- elderly disabled families from their HCV waiting list. Upon turnover, these vouchers must be issued to non-elderly disabled families from the PHA’s HCV waiting list. • One-Year Mainstream Housing Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities (One-Year Mainstream) vouchers enable non-elderly disabled families on the PHA’s waiting list to receive a voucher. After initial leasing, turnover vouchers must be issued to non-elderly disabled families from the PHA’s voucher waiting list.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-V.B. ELIGIBLE POPULATION
General Requirements [Notice PIH 2013-19]
Only eligible families whose head of household, spouse, or cohead is non-elderly (under age 62) and disabled may receive a NED voucher. Families with only a minor child with a disability are not eligible.

In cases where the qualifying household member now qualifies as elderly due to the passage of time since the family received the NED voucher, existing NED participant families do not “age out,” as the family was eligible on the day it was first assisted under a housing assistance payments (HAP) contract.

The definition of person with disabilities for purposes of NED vouchers is the statutory definition under Section 3(b)(3)(E) of the 1937 Act, which is the same as is used for allowances and deductions in the HCV program and is provided in Exhibit 3-1 of this policy.

The PHA may not implement eligibility screening criteria for NED vouchers that is different from that of the regular HCV program.

NED Category 2 [Notice PIH 2013-19 and NED Category 2 FAQs] In addition to being eligible for the PHA’s regular HCV program and a non-elderly person with a disability, in order to receive a Category 2 voucher, the family’s head, spouse, cohead, or sole member must be transitioning from a nursing home or other healthcare institution and provided services needed to live independently in the community.

Nursing homes or other healthcare institutions may include intermediate care facilities and specialized institutions that care for those with intellectual disabilities, developmentally disabled, or mentally ill, but do not include board and care facilities (e.g., adult homes, adult day care, adult congregate living).

The PHA cannot limit who can apply to just those persons referred or approved by a Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration agency or state health agency. Other individuals could be placed on the waiting list if they can show, with confirmation by an independent agency or organization that routinely provides such services (this can be the MFP or partnering agency, but need not be), that the transitioning individual will be provided with all necessary services, including care or case management.

For each Category 2 family, there must be documentation (e.g., a copy of a referral letter from the partnering or referring agency) in the tenant file identifying the institution where the family lived at the time of voucher issuance.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-V.C. WAITING LIST
General Requirements [Notice PIH 2013-19]
Families must be selected for NED vouchers from the PHA’s waiting list in accordance with all applicable regulations and PHA policies in Chapter 4.

Regardless of the number of NED families the PHA is required to serve, the next family on the waiting list must be served. Further, the PHA may not skip over NED-eligible families on the waiting list because the PHA is serving the required number of NED families.

NED Category 2 Referrals [NED Category 2 FAQs]
For NED Category 2 families, the partnering agency may make referrals of eligible families to the PHA for placement on the waiting list. The PHA will then select these families from the waiting list for voucher issuance. Because language in the NOFA established that vouchers awarded under the NOFA must only serve non-elderly disabled families transitioning from institutions, the PHA does not need to establish a preference in order to serve these families ahead of other families on the PHA’s waiting list.

PHAs must accept applications from people living outside their jurisdictions or from people being referred from other Medicaid or MFP service agencies in their state.

If the PHA’s waiting list is closed, the PHA must reopen its waiting list to accept referrals from its partnering agency. When opening the waiting list, PHAs must advertise in accordance with 24 CFR 982.206 and PHA policies in Section 4-II.C. In addition, the PHA must ensure that individuals living in eligible institutions are aware when the PHA opens its waiting list by reaching out to social service agencies, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and specialized institutions in the local service area.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

Reissuance of Turnover Vouchers [Notice PIH 2013-19]
All NED turnover vouchers must be reissued to the next NED family on the PHA’s waiting list with the following exception: A Category 2 voucher must be issued to another Category 2 family upon turnover if a Category 2 family is on the PHA’s waiting list. If there are no Category 2 families on the PHA’s waiting list, the PHA must contact its partnering agency as well as conduct outreach through appropriate social service agencies and qualifying institutions to identify potentially eligible individuals. Only after all means of outreach have been taken to reach Category 2 families can the PHA reissue the voucher to another Category 2 NED family on the PHA’s waiting list. Any subsequent turnover of that voucher must again be used for a Category 2 family on the PHA’s waiting list, and the PHA is under the same obligation to conduct outreach to Category 2 families if no such families are on the PHA’s waiting list.

For PHAs that received both Category 1 and Category 2 vouchers, if at any time the PHA is serving fewer Category 2 families than the number of Category 2 HCVs awarded under the NOFA, when a Category 2 family applies to the waiting list and is found eligible, the PHA must issue the next NED voucher to that family. HUD monitors the initial leasing and reissuance of Category 2 HCVs. These vouchers may be recaptured and reassigned if not leased properly and in a timely manner.

All NED vouchers should be affirmatively marketed to a diverse population of NED-eligible families to attract protected classes least likely to apply. If at any time following the turnover of a NED HCV a PHA believes it is not practicable to assist NED families, the PHA must contact HUD.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-V.D. LEASE UP [Notice PIH 2013-19]
Voucher Term
While the PHA is not required to establish different policies for the initial term of the voucher for NED vouchers, HUD has encouraged PHAs with NED vouchers to be generous in establishing reasonable initial search terms and subsequent extensions for families with a disabled person.

PHA Policy
The PHA will not implement a different initial voucher term the NED program. The initial voucher term for the NED program will be the same as it is for HCV program as stated in Section 5-II.E.

All other PHA policies on extensions and suspension of vouchers in Section 5-II.E. will also apply.

Special Housing Types [Notice PIH 2013-19 and NED Category 2 FAQs] In general, a PHA is not required to permit families to use any of the special housing types and may limit the number of families using such housing. However, the PHA must permit the use of a special housing type if doing so provides a reasonable accommodation so that the program is readily accessible to and usable by a person with disabilities.

Such special housing types include single room occupancy housing, congregate housing, group homes, shared housing, cooperative housing, and manufactured homes when the family owns the home and leases the manufactured home space.

Persons with disabilities transitioning out of institutional settings may choose housing in the community that is in a group or shared environment or where some additional assistance for daily living is provided for them on site. Under HUD regulations, group homes and shared housing are considered special housing types and are not excluded as an eligible housing type in the HCV program. Assisted living facilities are also considered eligible housing under the normal HCV program rules, as long as the costs for meals and other supportive services are not included in the housing assistance payments (HAP) made by the PHA to the owner, and as long as the person does not need continual medical or nursing care. © Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

19-V.E. PORTABILITY [NED Category 2 FAQs]
NED voucher participants are eligible for portability under standard portability rules and all PHA policies regarding portability in Chapter 10, Part II apply to NED families. However, the PHA may, but is not required to, allow applicant NED families to move under portability, even if the family did not have legal residency in the initial PHA’s jurisdiction when they applied.

PHA Policy
If neither the head of household nor the spouse or cohead of a NED applicant family had a domicile (legal residence) in the PHA’s jurisdiction at the time that the family’s initial application for assistance was submitted, the family must lease a unit within the initial PHA’s jurisdiction for at least 12 months before requesting portability.

The PHA will consider exceptions to this policy for purposes of reasonable accommodation (see Chapter 2) or reasons related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.
© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates, Inc. Adminplan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

PART VI: RESERVED

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-1

GLOSSARY
A. ACRONYMS USED IN THE HOUSING CHOICE VOUCHER (HCV) PROGRAM ACC Annual contributions contract
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
AHA Anaheim Housing Authority
AIDS Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
BR Bedroom
CDBG Community Development Block Grant (Program)
CFR Code of Federal Regulations (published federal rules that define and implement laws; commonly referred to as “the regulations”)
CPI Consumer price index (published monthly by the Department of Labor as an inflation indicator)
EIV Enterprise Income Verification
FDIC Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation
FHA Federal Housing Administration (HUD Office of Housing) FHEO Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (HUD Office of) FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act (established Social Security taxes) FMR Fair market rent
FR Federal Register
FSS Family Self-Sufficiency (Program)
FY Fiscal year
FYE Fiscal year end
GAO Government Accountability Office
GB HUD HCV Guidebook
GR Gross rent
HA Housing authority or housing agency
HAP Housing assistance payment
HCV Housing choice voucher
HIP Housing Information Portal
HOTMA Housing Opportunity through Modernization Act of 2016 HQS Housing quality standards
HUD Department of Housing and Urban Development

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-2
HUDCLIPS HUD Client Information and Policy System
IPA Independent public accountant
IRA Individual retirement account
IRS Internal Revenue Service
IVT Income Validation Tool
JTPA Job Training Partnership Act
LBP Lead-based paint
LEP Limited English proficiency
MSA Metropolitan statistical area (established by the U.S. Census Bureau) MTW Moving to Work
NOFA Notice of funding availability
NSPIRE National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate OGC HUD's Office of General Counsel
OIG HUD’s Office of Inspector General
OMB Office of Management and Budget
PASS Plan to Achieve Self-Support
PBV Project-based voucher
PHA Public housing agency*
*Note: In the context of “PHA Policy,” PHA represents the Anaheim Housing Authority
PIH (HUD Office of) Public and Indian Housing
PS Payment standard
QC Quality control
RAD Rental Assistance Demonstration Program
REAC (HUD) Real Estate Assessment Center
RFP Request for proposals
RTA Request for tenancy approval
RIGI Regional inspector general for investigation (handles fraud and program abuse matters for HUD at the regional office level)
RVI Remote Video Inspection
SEMAP Section 8 Management Assessment Program
SRO Single room occupancy
SSA Social Security Administration

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-3
SSI Supplemental security income
SWICA State wage information collection agency
TANF Temporary assistance for needy families
TPV Tenant protection vouchers
TR Tenant rent
TTP Total tenant payment
UA Utility allowance
UFAS Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards
UIV Upfront income verification
URP Utility reimbursement payment
VAWA Violence Against Women Act
VCA Voluntary Compliance Agreement
VMS Voucher Management System

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-4
B. GLOSSARY OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING TERMS
Abatement. Stopping HAP payments to an owner with no potential for retroactive payment.

Absorption. In portability (under subpart H of this part 982): the point at which a receiving PHA stops billing the initial PHA for assistance on behalf of a portability family. The receiving PHA uses funds available under the receiving PHA consolidated ACC.

Accessible. The facility or portion of the facility can be approached, entered, and used by persons with disabilities.

Adjusted income. Annual income, less allowable HUD deductions and allowances.

Administrative fee. Fee paid by HUD to the PHA for administration of the program. See §982.152.

Administrative plan. The plan that describes PHA policies for administration of the tenant-based programs. The Administrative Plan and any revisions must be approved by the PHA’s board and included as a supporting document to the PHA Plan. See §982.54.

Admission. The point when the family becomes a participant in the program. The date used for this purpose is the effective date of the first HAP contract for a family (first day of initial lease term) in a tenant-based program.

Affiliated individual. With respect to an individual, a spouse, parent, brother, sister, or child of that individual, or an individual to whom that individual stands in loco parentis (in the place of a parent), or any individual, tenant, or lawful occupant living in the household of that individual
Amortization payment. In a manufactured home space rental: The monthly debt service payment by the family to amortize the purchase price of the manufactured home.

Annual. Happening once a year.

Annual contributions contract (ACC). The written contract between HUD and a PHA under which HUD agrees to provide funding for a program under the 1937 Act, and the PHA agrees to comply with HUD requirements for the program.

Prior to PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Annual income. The anticipated total income of an eligible family from all sources for the 12-month period following the date of determination of income, computed in accordance with the regulations.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Annual income. All amounts not specifically excluded in 24 CFR 5.609(b), received from all sources by each member of the family who is 18 years of age or older or is the head of household, spouse or cohead, plus unearned income by or on behalf of each dependent who is under 18 years of age.

Applicant (applicant family). A family that has applied for admission to a program but is not yet a participant in the program.

Area exception rent. An amount that exceeds the published FMR. See 24 CFR 982.504(b).

As-paid states. States where the welfare agency adjusts the shelter and utility component of the welfare grant in accordance with actual housing costs.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-5
Assets. (See net family assets.)
Authorized voucher units. The number of units for which a PHA is authorized to make assistance payments to owners under its annual contributions contract.

Auxiliary aids. Services or devices that enable persons with impaired sensory, manual, or speaking skills to have an equal opportunity to participate in, and enjoy the benefits of, programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.

Biennial. Happening every two years.

Bifurcate. With respect to a public housing or Section 8 lease, to divide a lease as a matter of law such that certain tenants can be evicted or removed while the remaining family members’ lease and occupancy rights are allowed to remain intact.

Budget authority. An amount authorized and appropriated by the Congress for payment to PHAs under the program. For each funding increment in a PHA program, budget authority is the maximum amount that may be paid by HUD to the PHA over the ACC term of the funding increment.

Building. A structure with a roof and walls that contains one or more dwelling units.

Child. A member of the family other than the family head or spouse who is under 18 years of age.

Childcare expenses. Amounts anticipated to be paid by the family for the care of children under 13 years of age during the period for which annual income is computed, but only where such care is necessary to enable a family member to actively seek employment, be gainfully employed, or to further their education and only to the extent such amounts are not reimbursed. The amount deducted shall reflect reasonable charges for childcare. In the case of childcare necessary to permit employment, the amount deducted shall not exceed the amount of employment income that is included in annual income.

Citizen. A citizen or national of the United States.

Cohead. An individual in the household who is equally responsible for the lease with the head of household. A family may have a cohead or spouse but not both. A cohead never qualifies as a dependent. The cohead must have legal capacity to enter into a lease.

Common space. In shared housing, the space available for use by the assisted family and other occupants of the unit.

Computer match. The automated comparison of databases containing records about individuals.

Confirmatory review. An on-site review performed by HUD to verify the management performance of a PHA.

Consent form. Any consent form approved by HUD to be signed by assistance applicants and participants to obtain income information from employers and SWICAs; return information from the Social Security Administration (including wages, net earnings from self- employment, and retirement income); and return information for unearned income from the IRS. Consent forms expire after a certain time and may authorize the collection of other information to determine eligibility or level of benefits.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-6
Congregate housing. Housing for elderly persons or persons with disabilities that meets the HQS for congregate housing. A special housing type: see 24 CFR 982.606–609.

Contiguous MSA. In portability (under subpart H of part 982): An MSA that shares a common boundary with the MSA in which the jurisdiction of the initial PHA is located.

Continuously assisted. An applicant is continuously assisted under the 1937 Act if the family is already receiving assistance under any 1937 Housing Act program when the family is admitted to the voucher program.

Contract authority. The maximum annual payment by HUD to a PHA for a funding increment.

Cooperative (term includes mutual housing). Housing owned by a nonprofit corporation or association, and where a member of the corporation or association has the right to reside in a particular apartment, and to participate in management of the housing. A special housing type (see 24 CFR 982.619).

Covered families. Statutory term for families who are required to participate in a welfare agency economic self-sufficiency program and who may be subject to a welfare benefit sanction for noncompliance with this obligation. Includes families who receive welfare assistance or other public assistance under a program for which federal, state or local law requires that a member of the family must participate in an economic self-sufficiency program as a condition for the assistance.

Dating violence. Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim; and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
- The length of the relationship
- The type of relationship
- The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Day laborer. An individual hired and paid one day at a time without an agreement that the individual will be hired or work again in the future.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: De minimis error. An error that results in a difference in the determination of a family’s adjusted income of $30 or less per month.

Dependent. A member of the family (except foster children and foster adults) other than the family head or spouse, who is under 18 years of age, or is a person with a disability, or is a full-time student.

Dependent child. In the context of the student eligibility restrictions, a dependent child of a student enrolled in an institution of higher education. The dependent child must also meet the definition of dependent as specified above.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-7
Disability assistance expenses. Reasonable expenses that, when combined with health and medical care expenses, exceed 10 percent of annual income and are anticipated, during the period for which annual income is computed, for attendant care and auxiliary apparatus for a disabled family member, and that are necessary to enable a family member (including the disabled member) to be employed, provided that the expenses are neither paid to a member of the family nor reimbursed by an outside source.

Disabled family. A family whose head, cohead, spouse, or sole member is a person with disabilities; two or more persons with disabilities living together; or one or more persons with disabilities living with one or more live-in aides.

Disabled person. See person with disabilities.

Disallowance. Exclusion from annual income.

Displaced family. A family in which each member, or whose sole member, is a person displaced by governmental action, or a person whose dwelling has been extensively damaged or destroyed as a result of a disaster declared or otherwise formally recognized pursuant to federal disaster relief laws.

Domestic violence. Felony or misdemeanor crimes committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim under the family or domestic violence laws of the jurisdiction receiving grant funding, and in the case of victim services, includes the user or attempted use of physical abuse or sexual abuse, or a pattern of any other coercive behavior committed, enabled, or solicited to gain or maintain power and control over a victim, including verbal, psychological, economic, or technological abuse that may or may not constitute criminal behavior, by a person who is:
- The current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, or person similarly situated to a spouse or intimate partner of the victim
- A person who is cohabitating or has cohabitated with the victim as a spouse or intimate partner
- A person with whom the victim shares a child in common - A person who commits acts against a youth or adult victim who is protected from those acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction Domicile. The legal residence of the household head or spouse as determined in accordance with state and local law.

Drug-related criminal activity. The illegal manufacture, sale, distribution, or use of a drug, or the possession of a drug with intent to manufacture, sell, distribute, or use the drug.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Earned income. Income or earnings from wages, tips, salaries, other employee compensation, and net income from self-employment.

Earned income does not include any pension or annuity, transfer payments (meaning payments made or income received in which no goods or services are being paid for, such as welfare, social security, and governmental subsidies for certain benefits), or any cash or in- kind benefits.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-8
Economic abuse. Behavior that is coercive, deceptive, or unreasonably controls or restrains a person’s ability to acquire, use, or maintain economic resources to which they are entitle, including using coercion, fraud, and manipulation to:
- Restrict a person’s access to money, assets, credit, or financial information - Unfairly use a person’s personal economic resources, including money, assets, and credit, for one’s own advantage
- Exert undue influence over a person’s financial and economic behavior or decisions, including forcing default on joint or other financial obligations, exploiting powers of attorney, guardianship, or conservatorship, or to whom one has a fiduciary duty Economic self-sufficiency program. Any program designed to encourage, assist, train or facilitate the economic independence of assisted families, or to provide work for such families. Can include job training, employment counseling, work placement, basic skills training, education, English proficiency, Workfare, financial or household management, apprenticeship, or any other program necessary to ready a participant to work (such as treatment for drug abuse or mental health treatment). Includes any work activities as defined in the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 607(d)). Also see 24 CFR 5.603(c).

Elderly family. A family whose head, cohead, spouse, or sole member is a person who is at least 62 years of age; two or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living together; or one or more persons who are at least 62 years of age living with one or more live-in aides.

Elderly person. An individual who is at least 62 years of age.

Eligible family A family that is income eligible and meets the other requirements of the 1937 Act and Part 5 of 24 CFR. See also family.

Employer identification number (EIN). The nine-digit taxpayer identifying number that is assigned to an individual, trust, estate, partnership, association, company, or corporation.

Evidence of citizenship or eligible status. The documents which must be submitted as evidence of citizenship or eligible immigration status. See 24 CFR 5.508(b).

Extremely low-income family. A family whose annual income does not exceed the federal poverty level or 30 percent of the median income for the area, whichever number is higher.

Area median income is determined by HUD, with adjustments for smaller and larger families. HUD may establish income ceilings higher or lower than 30 percent of median income if HUD finds such variations are necessary due to unusually high or low family incomes. See 24 CFR 5.603.

Fair Housing Act. Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988.

Fair market rent (FMR). The rent, including the cost of utilities (except telephone), as established by HUD for units of varying sizes (by number of bedrooms), that must be paid in the housing market area to rent privately owned, existing, decent, safe, and sanitary rental housing of modest (non-luxury) nature with suitable amenities. In the HCV program, the FMR may be established at the ZIP code level (see definition of Small Area Fair Market Rents), metropolitan area level, or nonmetropolitan county level.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-9
Family. Includes but is not limited to the following, regardless of actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity, or marital status, and can be further defined in PHA policy.

Family includes a single person, who may be:
- An elderly person, displaced person, disabled person, near-elderly person, or any other single person;
- Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: An otherwise eligible youth who has attained at least 18 years of age and not more than 24 years of age and who has left foster care, or will leave foster care within 90 days, in accordance with a transition plan described in section 475(5)(H) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 675(5)(H)), and is homeless or is at risk of becoming homeless at age 16 or older; or Family also includes a group of persons residing together, and such group includes, but is not limited to:
- A family with or without children (a child who is temporarily away from the home because of placement in foster care is considered a member of the family); - An elderly family;
- A near-elderly family;
- A disabled family;
- A displaced family; and
- The remaining member of a tenant family.

Family rent to owner. In the voucher program, the portion of rent to owner paid by the family.

Family self-sufficiency program (FSS program). The program established by a PHA within its jurisdiction to promote self-sufficiency among participating families, including the coordination of supportive services to these families (24 CFR 984.103).

Family share. The portion of rent and utilities paid by the family. For calculation of family share, see 24 CFR 982.515(a).

Family unit size. The appropriate number of bedrooms for a family, as determined by the PHA under the PHA subsidy standards.

Federal agency. A department of the executive branch of the federal government.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Foster adult. A member of the household who is 18 years of age or older and meets the definition of a foster adult under state law. In general, a foster adult is a person who is 18 years of age or older, is unable to live independently due to a debilitating physical or mental condition, and is placed with the family by an authorized placement agency or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Foster child. A member of the household who meets the definition of a foster child under state law. In general, a foster child is placed with the family by an authorized placement agency (e.g., public child welfare agency) or by judgment, decree, or other order of any court of competent jurisdiction.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-10
Foster childcare payment. A payment to eligible households by state, local, or private agencies appointed by the state to administer payments for the care of foster children.

Full-time student. A person who is attending school or vocational training on a full-time basis (carrying a subject load that is considered full-time for day students under the standards and practices of the educational institution attended). See 24 CFR 5.603.

Funding increment. Each commitment of budget authority by HUD to a PHA under the consolidated annual contributions contract for the PHA program.

Gender identity. Actual or perceived gender-related characteristics.

Gross rent. The sum of the rent to owner plus any utility allowance.

Group home. A dwelling unit that is licensed by a state as a group home for the exclusive residential use of two to twelve persons who are elderly or persons with disabilities (including any live-in aide). (A special housing type: see 24 CFR 982.610–614.) Handicap. Any condition or characteristic that renders a person an individual with handicaps. (See person with disabilities.)
HAP contract. The housing assistance payments contract. A written contract between the PHA and an owner for the purpose of providing housing assistance payments to the owner on behalf of an eligible family.

Head of household. The adult member of the family who is the head of the household for purposes of determining income eligibility and rent.

Health and medical care expenses. Any costs incurred in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease or payments for treatments affecting any structure or function of the body. Health and medical care expenses include medical insurance premiums and long-term care premiums that are paid or anticipated during the period for which annual income is computed.

Household. A household includes additional people other than the family who, with the PHA’s permission, live in an assisted unit, such as live-in aides, foster children, and foster adults.

Housing assistance payment. The monthly assistance payment by a PHA, which includes: (1) A payment to the owner for rent to the owner under the family's lease; and (2) An additional payment to the family if the total assistance payment exceeds the rent to owner.

Housing agency (HA). See public housing agency.

Housing quality standards (HQS). The minimum quality standards developed by HUD in accordance with 24 CFR 5.703 for the HCV program, including any variations approved by HUD for the PHA under 24 CFR 5.705(a)(3).

HUD. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-11
Human trafficking. A crime involving the exploitation of a person for labor, services, or commercial sex. The Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations recognize and define two primary forms of human trafficking:
- Sex trafficking is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, obtaining, patronizing, or soliciting of a person for the purpose of a commercial sex act in which a commercial sex act is induced by force, fraud, or coercion, or in which the person induced to perform such act has not attained 18 years of age. See 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11)(A). - Forced labor is the recruitment, harboring, transportation, provision, or obtaining of a person for labor or services, through the use of force, fraud, or coercion for the purpose of subjection to involuntary servitude, peonage, debt bondage, or slavery. See 22 U.S.C. § 7102(11)(B).

Imputed welfare income. An amount of annual income that is not actually received by a family as a result of a specified welfare benefit reduction, but is included in the family’s annual income and therefore reflected in the family’s rental contribution.

Income for eligibility. Annual income.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Independent contractor. An individual who qualifies as an independent contractor instead of an employee in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code Federal income tax requirements and whose earnings are consequently subject to the Self-Employment Tax. In general, an individual is an independent contractor if the payer has the right to control or direct only the result of the work and not what will be done and how it will be done.

Independent entity. The unit of general local government; however, if the PHA itself is the unit of general local government or an agency of such government, then only the next level of general local government (or an agency of such government) or higher may serve as the independent entity; or a HUD-approved entity that is autonomous and recognized under state law as a separate legal entity from the PHA. The entity must not be connected financially (except regarding compensation for services performed for PHA-owned units) or in any other manner that could result in the PHA improperly influencing the entity.

Individual with handicaps. See person with disabilities.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Inflationary index. An index based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) used to make annual adjustments to the deduction for elderly disabled families, the cap for imputing returns on assets, the restriction on net family assets, the amount of net assets the PHA may determine based on self-certification by the family, and the dependent deduction.

Initial PHA. In portability, the term refers to both: (1) A PHA that originally selected a family that later decides to move out of the jurisdiction of the selecting PHA; and (2) A PHA that absorbed a family that later decides to move out of the jurisdiction of the absorbing PHA.

Initial payment standard. The payment standard at the beginning of the HAP contract term.

Initial rent to owner. The rent to owner at the beginning of the HAP contract term.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-12
Inside. Under NSPIRE, the inside of HUD housing (or “inside areas”) refers to the common areas and building systems that can be generally found within the building interior and are not inside a unit. Examples of “inside” common areas may include, basements, interior or attached garages, enclosed carports, restrooms, closets, utility rooms, mechanical rooms, community rooms, day care rooms, halls, corridors, stairs, shared kitchens, laundry rooms, offices, enclosed porches, enclosed patios, enclosed balconies, and trash collection areas.

Examples of building systems include those components that provide domestic water such as pipes, electricity, elevators, emergency power, fire protection, HVAC, and sanitary services.

Institution of higher education. An institution of higher education as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1001 and 1002. See Exhibit 3-2 in this Administrative Plan.

Jurisdiction. The area in which the PHA has authority under state and local law to administer the program.

Landlord. Either the owner of the property or their representative, or the managing agent or their representative, as shall be designated by the owner.

Lease. A written agreement between an owner and a tenant for the leasing of a dwelling unit to the tenant. The lease establishes the conditions for occupancy of the dwelling unit by a family with housing assistance payments under a HAP contract between the owner and the PHA.

Life-Threatening deficiency. Under NSPIRE, the life-threatening category includes deficiencies that, if evident in the home or on the property, present a high risk of death or severe illness or injury to a resident.

Live-in aide. A person who resides with one or more elderly persons, or near-elderly persons, or persons with disabilities, and who:
- Is determined to be essential to the care and well-being of the persons; - Is not obligated for the support of the persons; and
- Would not be living in the unit except to provide the necessary supportive services.

Local preference. A preference used by the PHA to select among applicant families.

Low deficiency. Under NSPIRE, deficiencies critical to habitability but not presenting a substantive health or safety risk to resident.

Low-income family. A family whose income does not exceed 80 percent of the median income for the area as determined by HUD with adjustments for smaller or larger families, except that HUD may establish income limits higher or lower than 80 percent for areas with unusually high or low incomes.

Manufactured home. A manufactured structure that is built on a permanent chassis, is designed for use as a principal place of residence, and meets the HQS. (A special housing type: see 24 CFR 982.620 and 982.621.)
Manufactured home space. In manufactured home space rental: A space leased by an owner to a family. A manufactured home owned and occupied by the family is located on the space. See 24 CFR 982.622 to 982.624.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-13
Minor. A member of the family household other than the family head or spouse, who is under 18 years of age.

Mixed family. A family whose members include those with citizenship or eligible immigration status, and those without citizenship or eligible immigration status.

Moderate deficiency. Under NSPIRE, this includes deficiencies that, if evident in the home or on the property, present a moderate risk of an adverse medical event requiring a healthcare visit; cause temporary harm; or if left untreated, cause or worsen a chronic condition that may have long-lasting adverse health effects; or that the physical security or safety of a resident or their property could be compromised.

Monthly adjusted income. One twelfth of adjusted income.

Monthly income. One twelfth of annual income.

Mutual housing. Included in the definition of cooperative.

National. A person who owes permanent allegiance to the United States, for example, as a result of birth in a United States territory or possession.

National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate. HUD’s housing inspection approach. NSPIRE is a single inspection standard for all units under the Public Housing, HCV, Multifamily, and Community Planning and Development (CPD) programs. NSPIRE’s focus is on the areas that impact residents the most, such as the dwelling unit.

Near-elderly family. A family whose head, spouse, or sole member is a person who is at least 50 years of age but below the age of 62; or two or more persons, who are at least 50 years of age but below the age of 62, living together; or one or more persons who are at least 50 years of age but below the age of 62 living with one or more live-in aides.

Prior to PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Net family assets. (1) Net cash value after deducting reasonable costs that would be incurred in disposing of real property, savings, stocks, bonds, and other forms of capital investment, excluding interests in Indian trust land and excluding equity accounts in HUD homeownership programs. The value of necessary items of personal property such as furniture and automobiles shall be excluded. - In cases where a trust fund has been established and the trust is not revocable by, or under the control of, any member of the family or household, the value of the trust fund will not be considered an asset so long as the fund continues to be held in trust. Any income distributed from the trust fund shall be counted when determining annual income under §5.609.
- In determining net family assets, PHAs or owners, as applicable, shall include the value of any business or family assets disposed of by an applicant or tenant for less than fair market value (including a disposition in trust, but not in a foreclosure or bankruptcy sale) during the two years preceding the date of application for the program or reexamination, as applicable, in excess of the consideration received therefore. In the case of a disposition as part of a separation or divorce settlement, the disposition will not be considered to be for less than fair market value if the applicant or tenant receives important consideration not measurable in dollar terms.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-14
Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Net family assets. The net cash value of all assets owned by the family, after deducting reasonable costs that would be incurred in disposing real property, savings, stocks, bonds, and other forms of capital investment. In determining net family assets, PHAs or owners, as applicable, must include the value of any business or family assets disposed of by an applicant or tenant for less than fair market value (including a disposition in trust, but not in a foreclosure or bankruptcy sale) during the two years preceding the date of application for the program or reexamination, as applicable, in excess of the consideration received therefor. In the case of a disposition as part of a separation or divorce settlement, the disposition will not be considered to be for less than fair market value if the applicant or tenant receives consideration not measurable in dollar terms.

Negative equity in real property or other investments does not prohibit the owner from selling the property or other investments, so negative equity alone would not justify excluding the property or other investments from family assets.

Noncitizen. A person who is neither a citizen nor national of the United States.

Notice of funding availability (NOFA). For budget authority that HUD distributes by competitive process, the Federal Register document that invites applications for funding.

This document explains how to apply for assistance and the criteria for awarding the funding.

Office of General Counsel (OGC). The General Counsel of HUD.

Outside. Under NSPIRE, outside of HUD housing (or “outside areas”) refers to the building site, building exterior components, and any building systems located outside of the building or unit. Examples of “outside” components may include fencing, retaining walls, grounds, lighting, mailboxes, project signs, parking lots, detached garage or carport, driveways, play areas and equipment, refuse disposal, roads, storm drainage, non-dwelling buildings, and walkways. Components found on the exterior of the building are also considered outside areas, and examples may include doors, attached porches, attached patios, balconies, car ports, fire escapes, foundations, lighting, roofs, walls, and windows.

Overcrowded. A unit that does not have at least one bedroom or living/sleeping room for each two persons.

Owner. Any person or entity with the legal right to lease or sublease a unit to a participant.

PHA-owned unit. A dwelling unit in a project that is: (A) Owned by the PHA (including having a controlling interest in the entity that owns the project); (B) Owned by an entity wholly controlled by the PHA; or (C) Owned by a limited liability company or limited partnership in which the PHA (or an entity wholly controlled by the PHA) holds a controlling interest in the managing member or general partner. A controlling interest is: (A) Holding more than 50 percent of the stock of any corporation; (B) Having the power to appoint more than 50 percent of the members of the board of directors of a non-stock corporation (such as a nonprofit corporation); (C) Where more than 50 percent of the members of the board of directors of any corporation also serve as directors, officers, or employees of the PHA; (D) Holding more than 50 percent of all managing member interests in an LLC; (E) Holding more than 50 percent of all general partner interests in a partnership; or (F) Equivalent levels of control in other ownership structures.

PHA Plan. The annual plan and the 5-year plan as adopted by the PHA and approved by HUD.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-15
PHA’s quality control sample. An annual sample of files or records drawn in an unbiased manner and reviewed by a PHA supervisor (or by another qualified person other than the person who performed the original work) to determine if the work documented in the files or records conforms to program requirements. For minimum sample size see CFR 985.3.

Participant (participant family). A family that has been admitted to the PHA program and is currently assisted in the program. The family becomes a participant on the effective date of the first HAP contract executed by the PHA for the family (first day of initial lease term).

Payment standard. The maximum monthly assistance payment for a family assisted in the voucher program (before deducting the total tenant payment by the family).

Person with disabilities. For the purposes of program eligibility. A person who has a disability as defined under the Social Security Act or Developmental Disabilities Care Act, or a person who has a physical or mental impairment expected to be of long and indefinite duration and whose ability to live independently is substantially impeded by that impairment but could be improved by more suitable housing conditions. This includes persons with AIDS or conditions arising from AIDS but excludes persons whose disability is based solely on drug or alcohol dependence. For the purposes of reasonable accommodation. A person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person regarded as having such an impairment, or a person with a record of such an impairment.

Portability. Renting a dwelling unit with a Section 8 housing choice voucher outside the jurisdiction of the initial PHA.

Premises. The building or complex in which the dwelling unit is located, including common areas and grounds.

Private space. In shared housing, the portion of a contract unit that is for the exclusive use of an assisted family.

Project owner. The person or entity that owns the housing project containing the assisted dwelling unit.

Public assistance. Welfare or other payments to families or individuals, based on need, which are made under programs funded, separately or jointly, by federal, state, or local governments.

Public housing agency (PHA). Any state, county, municipality, or other governmental entity or public body, or agency or instrumentality of these entities, that is authorized to engage or assist in the development or operation of low-income housing under the 1937 Act.

Qualified census tract. With regard to certain tax credit units, any census tract (or equivalent geographic area defined by the Bureau of the Census) in which at least 50 percent of households have an income of less than 60 percent of Area Median Gross Income (AMGI), or where the poverty rate is at least 25 percent, and where the census tract is designated as a qualified census tract by HUD.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Real property. Real property has the same meaning as that provided under the law of the state in which the property is located.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-16
Reasonable rent. A rent to owner that is not more than rent charged: (1) For comparable units in the private unassisted market; and (2) For comparable unassisted units in the premises.

Reasonable accommodation. A change, exception, or adjustment to a rule, policy, practice, or service to allow a person with disabilities to fully access the PHA’s programs or services.

Receiving PHA. In portability: A PHA that receives a family selected for participation in the tenant-based program of another PHA. The receiving PHA issues a voucher and provides program assistance to the family.

Recertification. Sometimes called reexamination. The process of securing documentation of total family income used to determine the rent the tenant will pay for the next 12 months if there are no additional changes to be reported.

Remaining member of the tenant family. The person left in assisted housing who may or may not normally qualify for assistance on their own circumstances (i.e., an elderly spouse dies, leaving widow age 47 who is not disabled).

Rent to owner. The total monthly rent payable to the owner under the lease for the unit (also known as contract rent). Rent to owner covers payment for any housing services, maintenance, and utilities that the owner is required to provide and pay for.

Request for Tenancy Approval (RTA). A form (Form HUD-52517) submitted by or on behalf of a family to a PHA once the family has identified a unit that it wishes to rent using tenant- based voucher assistance.

Residency preference. A PHA preference for admission of families that reside anywhere in a specified area, including families with a member who works or has been hired to work in the area (See residency preference area).

Residency preference area. The specified area where families must reside to qualify for a residency preference.

Responsible entity. For the public housing and the Section 8 tenant-based assistance, project- based voucher assistance, and moderate rehabilitation programs, the responsible entity means the PHA administering the program under an ACC with HUD. For all other Section 8 programs, the responsible entity means the Section 8 owner.

Secretary. The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

Section 8. Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937.

Section 8 covered programs. All HUD programs which assist housing under Section 8 of the 1937 Act, including Section 8 assisted housing for which loans are made under Section 202 of the Housing Act of 1959.

Section 8 Management Assessment Program (SEMAP). A system used by HUD to measure PHA performance in key Section 8 program areas. See 24 CFR Part 985.

Section 214. Section 214 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1980, as amended.

Section 214 covered programs. The collective term for the HUD programs to which the restrictions imposed by Section 214 apply. These programs are set forth in 24 CFR 5.500.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-17
Security deposit. A dollar amount (maximum set according to the regulations) which can be used for unpaid rent or damages to the owner upon termination of the lease.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Seasonal worker. An individual who is hired into a short-term position and the employment begins about the same time each year (such as summer or winter). Typically, the individual is hired to address seasonal demands that arise for the particular employer or industry.

Set-up charges. In a manufactured home space rental, charges payable by the family for assembling, skirting, and anchoring the manufactured home.

Severe deficiency. Under NSPIRE, the severe category includes deficiencies that, if evident in the home or on the property, present a high risk of permanent disability, or serious injury or illness, to a resident; or the physical security or safety of a resident or their property would be seriously compromised.

Sexual assault. Any nonconsensual sexual act proscribed by federal, tribal, or state law, including when the victim lacks capacity to consent (42 U.S.C. 13925(a)).

Sexual orientation. Homosexuality, heterosexuality or bisexuality.

Shared housing. A unit occupied by two or more families. The unit consists of both common space for shared use by the occupants of the unit and separate private space for each assisted family. (A special housing type: see 24 CFR 982.615–982.618.) Single person. A person living alone or intending to live alone.

Single room occupancy housing (SRO). A unit that contains no sanitary facilities or food preparation facilities, or contains either, but not both, types of facilities. (A special housing type: see 24 CFR 982.602–982.605.)
Small Area Fair Market Rents (SAFMRs). FMRs established for ZIP code areas.

Small rural public housing agency (PHA). Section 38 defines the term “small public housing agency” as a public housing agency “for which the sum of the number of public housing dwelling units administered by the agency and the number of vouchers under section 8(o) administered by the agency is 550 or fewer” and “that predominantly operates in a rural area, as described in section 1026.35(b)(2)(iv)(A) of title 12, Code of Federal Regulations.” After consideration of the public comments discussed above, HUD is interpreting “predominantly operates in a rural area” to mean a small PHA that:
(1) Has a primary administrative building with a physical address in a rural area as described in 12 CFR 1026.35(b)(2)(iv)(A); or
(2) more than 50 percent of its combined public housing units and voucher units under section 8(o) are in rural areas as described in 12 CFR 1026.35(b)(2)(iv)(A). HUD also clarifies that voucher units under section 8(o) include those in the tenant-based Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program and the Project-Based Voucher (PBV) program.

Social security number (SSN). The nine-digit number that is assigned to a person by the Social Security Administration and that identifies the record of the person’s earnings reported to the Social Security Administration. The term does not include a number with a letter as a suffix that is used to identify an auxiliary beneficiary.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-18
Special admission. Admission of an applicant that is not on the PHA waiting list or without considering the applicant’s waiting list position.

Special housing types. See subpart M of part 982. Subpart M states the special regulatory requirements for: SRO housing, congregate housing, group homes, shared housing, cooperatives (including mutual housing), and manufactured homes (including manufactured home space rental).

Specified welfare benefit reduction. Those reductions of welfare benefits (for a covered family) that may not result in a reduction of the family rental contribution. A reduction of welfare benefits because of fraud in connection with the welfare program, or because of welfare sanction due to noncompliance with a welfare agency requirement to participate in an economic self-sufficiency program.

Spouse. The marriage partner of the head of household.

Stalking. To follow, pursue, or repeatedly commit acts with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate; or to place under surveillance with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person; and in the course of, or as a result of, such following, pursuit, surveillance, or repeatedly committed acts, to place a person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to, or to cause substantial emotional harm to (1) that person, (2) a member of the immediate family of that person, or (3) the spouse or intimate partner of that person.

State wage information collection agency (SWICA). The state agency, including any Indian tribal agency, receiving quarterly wage reports from employers in the state, or an alternative system that has been determined by the Secretary of Labor to be as effective and timely in providing employment-related income and eligibility information.

Subsidy standards. Standards established by a PHA to determine the appropriate number of bedrooms and amount of subsidy for families of different sizes and compositions.

Suspension. The term on the family’s voucher stops from the date the family submits a request for PHA approval of the tenancy, until the date the PHA notifies the family in writing whether the request has been approved or denied. This practice is also called tolling.

Tax credit rent. With regard to certain tax credit units, the rent charged for comparable units of the same bedroom size in the building that also receive the low-income housing tax credit but do not have any additional rental assistance (e.g., tenant-based voucher assistance).

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-19
Technological abuse. An act or pattern of behavior that occurs within domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking and is intended to harm, threaten, intimidate, control, stalk, harass, impersonate, exploit, extort, or monitor another person, except as otherwise permitted by law, that occurs using any form of technology, including but not limited to:
- Internet enabled devices
- Online spaces and platforms
- Computers
- Mobile devices
- Cameras and imaging programs
- Apps
- Location tracking devices
- Communication technologies
- Any other emergency technologies
Tenancy addendum. For the housing choice voucher program, the lease language required by HUD in the lease between the tenant and the owner.

Tenant. The person or persons (other than a live-in aide) who executes the lease as lessee of the dwelling unit.

Tenant-paid utilities.

Utilities and services that are not included in the rent to owner and are the responsibility of the assisted family, regardless of whether the payment goes to the utility company or the owner. The utilities and services are those necessary in the locality to provide housing that complies with HQS. The utilities and services may also include those required by HUD through a Federal Register notice after providing opportunity for public comment.

Tenant rent to owner. See family rent to owner.

Term of lease. The amount of time a tenant agrees in writing to live in a dwelling unit.

Total tenant payment (TTP). The total amount the HUD rent formula requires the tenant to pay toward rent and utilities.

Upon PHA implementation of HOTMA 102/104: Unearned income. Any annual income, as calculated under 24 CFR 5.609, that is not earned income.

Unit. Under NSPIRE, a unit (or “dwelling unit”) of HUD housing refers to the interior components of an individual unit. Examples of components included in the interior of a unit may include the balcony, bathroom, call-for-aid (if applicable), carbon monoxide devices, ceiling, doors, electrical systems, enclosed patio, floors, HVAC (where individual units are provided), kitchen, lighting, outlets, smoke detectors, stairs, switches, walls, water heater, and windows.

Utilities. Water, electricity, gas, other heating, refrigeration, cooking fuels, trash collection, and sewage services. Telephone service is not included.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-20
Utility allowance. If the cost of utilities (except telephone) and other housing services for an assisted unit is not included in the tenant rent but is the responsibility of the family occupying the unit, an amount equal to the estimate made or approved by a PHA or HUD of the monthly cost of a reasonable consumption of such utilities and other services for the unit by an energy-conservative household of modest circumstances consistent with the requirements of a safe, sanitary, and healthful living environment.

Utility reimbursement. In the voucher program, the portion of the housing assistance payment which exceeds the amount of rent to owner.

Utility hook-up charge. In a manufactured home space rental: Costs payable by a family for connecting the manufactured home to utilities such as water, gas, electrical and sewer lines.

Very low-income family. A low-income family whose annual income does not exceed 50 percent of the median income for the area, as determined by HUD, with adjustments for smaller and larger families. HUD may establish income limits higher or lower than 50 percent of the median income for the area on the basis of its finding that such variations are necessary because of unusually high or low family incomes. This is the income limit for the housing choice voucher program.

Veteran. A person who has served in the active military or naval service of the United States at any time and who shall have been discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Prohibits denying admission to the program to an otherwise qualified applicant or terminating assistance on the basis that the applicant or program participant is or has been a victim of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking.

Violent criminal activity. Any illegal criminal activity that has as one of its elements the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another.

Voucher (housing choice voucher). A document issued by a PHA to a family selected for admission to the housing choice voucher program. This document describes the program and the procedures for PHA approval of a unit selected by the family. The voucher also states obligations of the family under the program.

Voucher holder. A family holding a voucher with an unexpired term (search time).

Voucher program. The housing choice voucher program.

Waiting list. A list of families organized according to HUD regulations and PHA policy who are waiting for a unit to become available.

Waiting list admission. An admission from the PHA waiting list.

© Copyright 2024 Nan McKay & Associates Admin Plan 4/1/26 Unlimited copies may be made for internal use.

GL-21
Welfare assistance. Income assistance from federal or state welfare programs, including assistance provided under TANF and general assistance. Does not include assistance directed solely to meeting housing expenses, nor programs that provide health care, childcare or other services for working families. For the FSS program (24 CFR 984.103), welfare assistance includes only cash maintenance payments designed to meet a family’s ongoing basic needs.

Does not include nonrecurring short term benefits designed to address individual crisis situations, work subsidies, supportive services such as childcare and transportation provided to families who are employed, refundable earned income tax credits, contributions to and distributions from Individual Development Accounts under TANF, services such as counseling, case management, peer support, childcare information and referral, financial empowerment, transitional services, job retention, job advancement, and other employment- related services that to not provide basic income support, amounts solely directed to meeting housing expenses, amounts for health care, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and emergency rental and utilities assistance, SSI, SSDI, or social security, and child-only or non-needy TANF grants made to or on behalf of a dependent child solely on the basis of the child’s need and not the need of the child’s current non-parental caretaker.

Withholding. Stopping HAP payments to an owner while holding them for potential retroactive disbursement.